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Report: Fultz allegedly accepted $10K from sports agency

SEATTLE — The University of Washington is responding to reports of potential NCAA violations against some of the biggest names in college basketball.

UW is one of many schools named in a pay-for-play FBI investigation.

Markelle Fultz, who played one season at Washington, was taken No. 1 overall by Philadelphia in the 2017 NBA draft.

Washington department of athletics said they are aware of the report alleging that a former UW men's basketball player accepted improper benefits as an amateur.

Yahoo Sports reported on Friday that Fultz accepted a $10,000 loan from a sports agency called ASM before he arrived at Washington.

Fultz did not sign with that agency.

According to documents published by Yahoo, more than 20 Division 1 men's basketball programs were identified as possibly breaking NCAA rules through violations that were uncovered by the FBI's investigation.

“Yeah, it's kind of troubling when you hear [that news],” Marina Raykova, a University of Washington student, said. "Like, he [Fultz] was a really big deal to the school."

Fultz is a huge deal at Washington.

During the 2016-2017 season, he was one of the top players in the nation.

"Everybody always talks about him [on campus still],” Juliana McKinney, a student who watches many of the UW men’s basketball games, said. “Everybody knew him as the No. 1 draft pick. So it was like a big deal."

One UW student KIRO 7 spoke with said he met Fultz a couple of times on campus last year.

"He seems like a really stand-up guy,” said Jake Kovash. “I'm not sure what the circumstances were for him allegedly taking the money or whatever is happening there."

UW released this statement on Friday, Feb. 23: “University of Washington athletic department officials are aware of a report alleging that a former UW men’s basketball player accepted improper benefits as an amateur. We take these allegations very seriously, and are working to gather more information about this situation. Washington Athletics is committed to full compliance with NCAA legislation and with any investigations that may result from these allegations.”

Another former Washington player, Dejounte Murray, reportedly received $500 from ASM Sports between March 2 and March 25 in 2016.

"None of it has been proven yet so unless it's like [a] fact that it happen, then that would be a shock,” said John Fox, who attends University of Washington.

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