Agent Broke FL, TN Law in Failing to Register

Agent Broke Florida, TN Laws in Contacting Players

Miller failed to register despite repeated calls

New York, March 31, 200 -- Andy Miller, a professional sports agent who figures prominently in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s investigation of the St. John’s basketball program appears to have broken the law in two states by repeatedly contacting the prominent college players without registering as an agent in those states or alerting the athletes universities about the conversations.

According to the New York Times, telephone records and diary entries belonging to Miller, show that he had numerous phone conversations with Mike Miller (no relation), the star guard for the University of Florida, who played in the Final Four. The records also show repeated calls to Tony Harris of the University of Tennessee.

Both states have strict laws governing agents [click here for selected Florida statutes], including a requirement that they register with the state and that they notify the university when contacting an athlete. In Florida, violating these provisions can be considered a felony; in Tennessee, it is a misdemeanor. Miller is not registered in either state.

Miller’s phone records and diaries, which were reviewed by the Times, are evidence in a lawsuit filed against him by Eric Fleisher, Miller’s former employer at Assist Sports Management. Fleisher accuses Miller of stealing his clients and is seeking $30 million in compensatory and punitive damages from Miller; Wilhelmina Models Inc., with whom Miller is associated; two other businesses; and 10 former clients.

NCAA rules do not forbid "contact" between an agent and a player, but they do prohibit the player’s reaching an oral or written agreement with an agent. If that is the case, the player loses his or her eligibility to play college sports at the time of the making of the contract.