NCAA Prosecutors Win Cooperation From Amateur Basketball Coach

• April 27 2018
• Christian Berthelsen

The director of an amateur Massachusetts basketball team affiliated with Adidas pleaded guilty to federal charges that he made payments to families of high school student-athletes in exchange for their commitment to play for certain universities, according to…

The director of an amateur Massachusetts basketball team affiliated with Adidas pleaded guilty to federal charges that he made payments to families of high school student-athletes in exchange for their commitment to play for certain universities, according to a copy of a plea agreement made public Friday.

Thomas "T.J." Gassnola pleaded guilty on March 30 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The plea remained sealed until Friday. According to news reports, Gassnola ran an Adidas-affiliated amateur team called the New England Playaz.