Washington Redskins running back Adrian Peterson was "trusting the wrong people," his attorney said, and is deeply in debt after making nearly $100 million in his career.

Peterson is being sued for failing to pay back a $5.2 million loan, The Athletic reported.

According to The Athletic, Peterson owes, after interest and legal fees, $6.6 million to DeAngelo Vehicle Sales, who claimed he had defaulted on his loan in the lawsuit that was filed in New York. Peterson had borrowed money from the lending company to pay off other creditors. He also must pay a combined $3 million to two other creditors.

"The truth behind Adrian Peterson's current financial situation is more than is being reported at this time," Peterson's attorney Chase Carlson said Tuesday in a statement. "Because of ongoing legal matters, I am unable to go into detail, but I will say this is yet another situation of an athlete trusting the wrong people and being taken advantage of by those he trusted. Adrian and his family look forward to sharing further details when appropriate."

Carlson declined further comment.

According to the Athletic, Peterson had defaulted on other loans, leading him to secure the $5.2 million loan from DVS on Oct. 26, 2016, while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. That money was to help pay $3.2 million to Thrivest Specialty Funding and $1.34 million to Crown Bank.

Peterson still owes $600,000 to Crown, and a Maryland judge last week said he must pay $2.4 million to Democracy Capital Corp., The Athletic reported.

Because the lawyers for DVS represented Peterson in another lawsuit, Peterson's attorney said there was a conflict of interest. That led to a judge cancelling Peterson's deposition Monday. Peterson's side said his confidential information was not properly obtained.

"As I have stated to Mr. Peterson's counsel, my firm has never held Mr. Peterson out as a client to third-parties," DVS attorney Darren Heitner said Tuesday via email. "Heitner Legal was never communicating with Mr. Peterson. There was and is no actual or perceived conflict of interest. No confidential information was obtained by Heitner Legal from Mr. Peterson. I view Mr. Peterson's tactics as nothing more than the latest attempt to stall the taking of his deposition."

Added Heitner: "I have no knowledge as to Mr. Peterson's personal assets. Based on experience, creditors with judgments in hand may be able to garnish some of his future wages."

The Redskins report to training camp Wednesday. Peterson will enter camp competing with Derrius Guice for the starting running back position. Peterson, who rushed for 1,042 yards last season, signed a two-year deal worth up to $5 million and includes annual incentives of $1.5 million.

Clemson's receivers have shirts they wear to workouts with "WRU" emblazoned across the front, a little nod to the pedigree of their position. At present, Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross make for worthy representatives of what they happily claim is Wide Receiver U, the best incubator for pass-catching talent in America. As evidence, they can point to Sammy Watkins, Nuk Hopkins and Mike Williams -- and on and on down the line of greats who built their reputations on the field at Death Valley, then went on to success in the NFL.

Of course, there are a few other schools that might take exception to that WRU moniker. From Julio Jones to Jerry Jeudy, Alabama has been churning out All-Americans like clockwork. And how about Oklahoma State's run from Dez Bryant to Tylan Wallace?

Which school is the real WRU -- or, for that matter, QBU or DBU or O-line U? It's a debate that deserves real answers, so we did the math.

ESPN Stats & Information dug deep into the numbers, culled details on all-conference performers, All-Americans, NFL draft picks and stars from the pro ranks, and came up with a formula to determine the official rankings for the schools best at producing quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends, running backs, linemen, linebackers and defensive backs.

We limited the debate to the BCS and CFP era, including all players who appeared in games from 1998 through last season.

We weighted an All-America nod higher than an All-SEC selection. We had to come up with a metric to determine a player's performance at the next level that would function for all position groups, so we used average Approximate Value over the first four seasons (or fewer, if applicable) in the NFL. We needed a way to account for Notre Dame's lack of conference affiliation, and we used Brian Burke's NFL draft pick values chart to figure out how much more to value a first-round draft pick than a seventh-rounder.

And in the end, these programs are the best of the best at recruiting and developing elite talent and then shipping it off to stardom in the NFL.

Jump to a position:

Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End
Offensive Line | Defensive Back | Defensive Line | Linebacker

Quarterback U

It's only fitting that the most high-profile position is arguably the most interesting in our rankings.

USC narrowly edged Oklahoma as the official QBU, but it's far from clear-cut. USC has reloaded at the position unlike any other program, going from Carson Palmer to Matt Leinart to John David Booty to Mark Sanchez to Matt Barkley to Cody Kessler to Sam Darnold -- all of whom were drafted and four of whom were taken in the first round.

Oklahoma, on the other hand, boasts an incomparable run of truly elite guys, with four Heisman winners (Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray) in the past 15 years, and three of those guys went first overall in the NFL draft. It's a slight edge for USC in consistency, but advantage Sooners when it comes to producing the most elite talent.

Perhaps as interesting as the teams at the top, however, is the team at No. 33. That'd be Alabama, checking in just after Syracuse and only a few spots ahead of Delaware. No team has dominated on the field during the BCS/College Football Playoff era quite like the Crimson Tide, but they've done it without elite QBs ... until last season, anyway.

Meanwhile, though the top 10 is full of big names, the team at No. 11 is worth a mention, too: Fresno State. Recruiting the Carr brothers worked out pretty well for the Bulldogs. If we run the numbers for QBU again in 10 years, however, Clemson might be the team at the top. The Tigers currently rank 16th, but with Deshaun Watson, Trevor Lawrence and soon hotshot recruit D.J. Uiagalelei, the current run of superstar quarterbacks for Dabo Swinney is tough to match. -- David Hale

1. USC
Notable players: Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez, Sam Darnold

2. Oklahoma
Notable players: Jason White, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray

3. Oregon
Notable players: A.J. Feeley, Joey Harrington, Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert

4. Texas
Notable players: Major Applewhite, Chris Simms, Vince Young, Colt McCoy

5. Florida State
Notable players: Chris Weinke, Christian Ponder, EJ Manuel, Jameis Winston

6. Louisville
Notable players: Chris Redman, Brian Brohm, Teddy Bridgewater, Lamar Jackson

7. Auburn
Notable players: Jason Campbell, Cam Newton, Nick Marshall, Jarrett Stidham

8. Florida
Notable players: Jesse Palmer, Rex Grossman, Chris Leak, Tim Tebow

9. Texas A&M
Notable players: Jerrod Johnson, Ryan Tannehill, Johnny Manziel, Kellen Mond

10. Ohio State
Notable players: Craig Krenzel, Troy Smith, Terrelle Pryor, J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins

Running Back U

How deep, talented and productive has Alabama been at the running back position the past two decades?

Perhaps this is the best way to answer that question: Eddie Lacy was Alabama's starter for only one season (2012), but he piled up more than 2,400 rushing yards in his career. He's one of seven Alabama running backs to be selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, going back to 2000, and that includes a couple of Heisman Trophy winners in Derrick Henry in 2015 and Mark Ingram in 2009. While a handful of schools might stake claim to the Running Back U moniker since the start of the BCS in 1998, Alabama sits atop the throne.

Alabama is one of four SEC schools to make the top 10, and it edged Wisconsin, which has churned out the likes of Melvin Gordon, Ron Dayne, Montee Ball, Michael Bennett and James White in recent years. And talk about backfields loaded with talent. Miami's 2001 stable featured Frank Gore, Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis, and Arkansas in 2006 had Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis in the same backfield. The 2004 Auburn backfield was equally stout, with Ronnie Brown and Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who went second overall and fifth overall, respectively, in the 2005 NFL draft.

One team surprisingly absent from the Running Back U top 10 is Georgia, which has had its share of talented runners over the years. In the past four years, the likes of Sony Michel, Nick Chubb and Todd Gurley have rumbled their way through Athens, but a lack of star power in the first half of the BCS era held the Dawgs back. -- Chris Low

1. Alabama
Notable players: Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, Shaun Alexander

2. Wisconsin
Notable players: Ron Dayne, Melvin Gordon, Montee Ball

3. LSU
Notable players: Leonard Fournette, Kevin Faulk, Jacob Hester

4. Oklahoma
Notable players: Adrian Peterson, Samaje Perine, DeMarco Murray

5. Miami
Notable players: Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James

6. Pittsburgh
Notable players: James Conner, LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis

7. Texas
Notable players: Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, Jamaal Charles

8. Oregon
Notable players: LaMichael James, Jonathan Stewart, LeGarrette Blount

9. Arkansas
Notable players: Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, Peyton Hillis

10. Auburn
Notable players: Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Tre Mason

Wide Receiver U

How did the Trojans get atop this list? Well, USC has eight seasons of all-conference wide receivers, which tied for fifth among Power 5 schools, and the Trojans have five All-American seasons from receivers, which tied for first nationally with Oklahoma State.

Those five All-Americans were huge factors in this ranking, and so were the 17 receivers drafted since the 1998 season, second only to Ohio State's 21. USC also had three receivers taken in the first round in that span.

In the past 15 seasons, USC has produced three 3,000-yard receivers: Marqise Lee, Dwayne Jarrett and JuJu Smith-Schuster. That's tied for first on this list with Oklahoma: Ryan Broyles, Sterling Shepard and Jalen Saunders.

The biggest surprise has to be LSU on this list. LSU has just five all-conference seasons from receivers and one All-American wideout: Josh Reed in 2001. Anemic offense and the lack of a 3,000-yard receiver over the past 15 years make you wonder how of all the Tigers in college football, these were the ones to make it in the top five.

Well, since 1998, 17 LSU receivers have been drafted. Do the names Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry mean anything to you? No one ever said LSU doesn't recruit studs, even if that potential wasn't always maximized in school. -- Edward Aschoff

1. USC
Notable players: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mike Williams, Marqise Lee, Dwayne Jarrett

2. Ohio State
Notable players: Michael Thomas, Ted Ginn Jr., David Boston

3. Florida State
Notable players: Kelvin Benjamin, Rashad Greene, Peter Warrick

4. Oklahoma State
Notable players: James Washington, Justin Blackmon, Dez Bryant

5. LSU
Notable players: Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Clayton, Jarvis Landry

6. Oklahoma
Notable players: Marquise Brown, Ryan Broyles, Jalen Saunders, Sterling Shepard

7. Florida
Notable players: Percy Harvin, Andre Caldwell, Antonio Callaway

8. Michigan
Notable players: Devin Funchess, Braylon Edwards, David Terrell

9. Alabama
Notable players: Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, Jerry Jeudy

10. Notre Dame
Notable players: Golden Tate, Will Fuller, Michael Floyd

Tight End U

Miami can officially say it is Tight End U. As if the Hurricanes haven't already been making that proclamation, it's now undeniable. Miami has so many big names and impact players at the position, it's hard to deny the program the top spot.

Tight ends have evolved, and there is more value in the position now than ever. Names such as Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen helped make that transition.

It isn't surprising to see Iowa so high on this list either, as the Hawkeyes regularly produce top tight ends year in and year out. In fact, Iowa became the first school to have two tight ends chosen in the first 20 picks of the NFL draft in April, when T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant were both selected in the first round. Iowa is a team that could take over the No. 1 spot if Miami isn't careful. -- Tom VanHaaren

1. Miami
Notable players: Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham, David Njoku, Chris Herndon

2. Iowa
Notable players: Dallas Clark, Scott Chandler, Tony Moeaki, C.J. Fiedorowicz, George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant

3. Stanford
Notable players: Coby Fleener, Zach Ertz, Austin Hooper, Dalton Schultz

4. Missouri
Notable players: Martin Rucker, Chase Coffman, Michael Egnew, Dwayne Blakley

5. Wisconsin
Notable players: Owen Daniels, Travis Beckum, Lance Kendricks, Troy Fumagalli

6. Oklahoma
Notable players: Mark Andrews, Blake Bell, James Hanna, Jermaine Gresham, Stephen Alexander

7. UCLA
Notable players: Bryan Fletcher, Marcedes Lewis, Thomas Duarte, Caleb Wilson

8. Arizona State
Notable players: Todd Heap, Brian Jennings, Zach Miller

9. Virginia
Notable players: Heath Miller, Bill Baber, Chris Luzar, Patrick Estes, Tom Santi

10. BYU
Notable players: Gabe Reid, Daniel Coats, Dennis Pitta, Jonny Harline

Offensive Line U

It's no surprise that Alabama finds itself at the top of this list with Wisconsin a close second. In this research, Alabama had the most seasons with an all-conference player and has had an incredible amount of players drafted since 1998.

The Crimson Tide and Badgers led most of the categories analyzed, and though offensive linemen can be difficult to evaluate individually, when you look at the draft results for both teams, it's easy to see why these two top the list. It will be difficult to dethrone these two programs, but Oklahoma and Notre Dame have been making a big push as of late. The Irish in particular have had a run of top offensive linemen taken in the NFL draft and seemingly have more on the way. -- Tom VanHaaren

1. Alabama
Notable players: Andre Smith, James Carpenter, D.J. Fluker, Cam Robinson, Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher

2. Wisconsin
Notable players: Joe Thomas, Gabe Carimi, Kevin Zeitler, Travis Frederick, Michael Deiter, David Edwards

3. Oklahoma
Notable players: Jammal Brown, Davin Joseph, Phil Loadholt, Trent Williams, Lane Johnson, Orlando Brown, Cody Ford

4. Michigan
Notable players: Jon Jansen, Steve Hutchinson, Jeff Backus, David Baas, Jake Long, Taylor Lewan

5. Ohio State
Notable players: LeCharles Bentley, Nick Mangold, Mike Adams, Jack Mewhort, Taylor Decker, Pat Elflein, Billy Price

6. USC
Notable players: Winston Justice, Ryan Kalil, Sam Baker, Tyron Smith, Matt Kalil, Marcus Martin, Chuma Edoga

7. Notre Dame
Notable players: Luke Petitgout, Jeff Faine, Zack Martin, Nick Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Mike McGlinchey, Quenton Nelson

8. Florida State
Notable players: Tra Thomas, Rodney Hudson, Menelik Watson, Bryan Stork, Cameron Erving, Tre' Jackson

9. Texas
Notable players: Jay Humphrey, Leonard Davis, Mike Williams, Derrick Dockery, Justin Blalock, Connor Williams

10. Florida
Notable players: Kenyatta Walker, Max Starks, Maurkice Pouncey, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Pouncey, D.J. Humphries, Jawaan Taylor

Defensive Back U

With just a few glances at Twitter during the season, you'll see that Florida and LSU players -- current and former -- and their official football team accounts are constantly bombarding the internet with claims of "DBU."

It actually might be college football's best rivalry over the past few years.

Unfortunately for both schools, they have to take a back seat to the real DBU: Ohio State.

Since 1998, Ohio State has 26 all-conference seasons by defensive backs (tops in the country) and six All-American seasons, which ranks second behind that of Alabama and LSU (eight). Since the 1998 season, 30 Buckeyes defensive backs have been drafted, among them 12 first-round picks, including three -- Marshon Lattimore, Malik Hooker and Gareon Conley -- in 2017.

After the Buckeyes, it was a run of SEC teams, with LSU, Alabama and Florida taking spots two through four. -- Edward Aschoff

1. Ohio State
Notable players: Marshon Lattimore, Denzel Ward, Eli Apple, Malcolm Jenkins

2. LSU
Notable players: Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Jamal Adams

3. Alabama
Notable players: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Mark Barron, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

4. Florida
Notable players: Vernon Hargreaves III, Joe Haden, Reggie Nelson

5. Florida State
Notable players: Jalen Ramsey, Derwin James, Myron Rolle

6. Texas
Notable players: Kenny Vaccaro, Earl Thomas, Quentin Jammer

7. USC
Notable players: Adoree' Jackson, Taylor Mays, Troy Polamalu

8. Miami
Notable players: Kenny Phillips, Brandon Meriweather, Sean Taylor

9. Virginia Tech
Notable players: Kyle Fuller, Kam Chancellor, DeAngelo Hall

10. Oklahoma
Notable players: Roy Williams, Andre Woolfolk, Zack Sanchez

Defensive Line U

Ask any quarterback in the SEC, and you won't exactly be surprised by our DLU winner. Of course it's Alabama.

The Crimson Tide's defensive front has been tormenting opposing offenses for the better part of the past decade, and the litany of D-line superstars to emerge from Tuscaloosa -- from Jarret Johnson to Quinnen Williams -- includes 12 All-SEC seasons and five All-Americans. Of course, the Dabo Swinney era at Clemson gives the Tide a run for its money. Clemson has had 17 All-ACC seasons from D-linemen, with last season's group -- Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant and Dexter Lawrence -- all drafted, including three in the first round. As much as the playoff battles between the Tide and Tigers have been a staple of college football the past few years, so too might be this battle for the official title of D-line U.

Clemson has a new group of emerging stars, including K.J. Henry and Xavier Thomas, and Alabama inked eight blue-chip D-linemen in the 2019 class, including five-star stud Antonio Alfano.

Perhaps the most surprising name in our rankings is North Carolina, which checks in at No. 12. It hasn't been a great run of late for the Tar Heels, but UNC dominated the early part of this era with names such as Ebenezer Ekuban, Ryan Sims, Julius Peppers, Kentwan Balmer, Robert Quinn, Quinton Coples and Sylvester Williams, all first-round picks.

Looking for the up-and-coming contender for DLU? Try Ohio State, which has had 11 defensive linemen drafted in the past decade and is likely to add another first-rounder in Chase Young next year. -- David Hale

1. Alabama
Notable players: Cornelius Griffin, Antwan Odom, Terrence Cody, Marcell Dareus, A'Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Da'Shawn Hand, Quinnen Williams

2. Clemson
Notable players: Gaines Adams, Phillip Merling, Ricky Sapp, Da'Quan Bowers, Jarvis Jenkins, Andre Branch, Grady Jarrett, Vic Beasley, Shaq Lawson, Kevin Dodd, Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell

3. Penn State
Notable players: Courtney Brown, Anthony Adams, Michael Haynes, Jimmy Kennedy, Tamba Hali, Aaron Maybin, Jared Odrick, Devon Still, Carl Nassib, Austin Johnson

4. LSU
Notable players: Booger McFarland, Marcus Spears, Kyle Williams, Glenn Dorsey, Tyson Jackson, Arden Key, Michael Brockers, Benny Logan

5. Florida State
Notable players: Corey Simon, Jamal Reynolds, Darnell Dockett, Travis Johnson, Brodrick Bunkley, Everette Brown, Tank Carradine, Timmy Jernigan, Bjoern Werner, Eddie Goldman, Mario Edwards Jr., DeMarcus Walker, Brian Burns

6. Ohio State
Notable players: Mike Vrabel, Ryan Pickett, Will Smith, Cam Heyward, Johnathan Hankins, Adolphus Washington, Joey Bosa, Sam Hubbard, Tyquan Lewis, Dre'Mont Jones, Nick Bosa, Chase Young

7. Texas
Notable players: Shaun Rogers, Casey Hampton, Cory Redding, Marcus Tubbs, Tim Crowder, Brian Orakpo, Lamar Houston, Malcolm Brown

8. Florida
Notable players: Jevon Kearse, Gerard Warren, Jarvis Moss, Derrick Harvey, Carlos Dunlap, Sharrif Floyd, Dominique Easley, Taven Bryan, Jachai Polite

9. USC
Notable players: Kenechi Udeze, Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson, Frostee Rucker, Lawrence Jackson, Sedrick Ellis, Everson Griffen, Leonard Williams

10. Tennessee
Notable players: Darwin Walker, Shaun Ellis, Albert Haynesworth, John Henderson, Justin Harrell, Dan Williams, Derek Barnett

Linebacker U

It's hard not to be mesmerized by all of the talent Georgia has produced at running back dating to Herschel Walker, arguably the greatest player to ever play in the SEC.

But when you glance across at the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs have been equally blessed at linebacker. In the past five years, they have produced seven NFL draft picks at either inside or outside linebacker. Go back seven years, and that number jumps to 10 linebackers taken in the NFL draft, including four first-rounders.

Historically, the Linebacker U tag might have been reserved for Penn State, and the Nittany Lions are still up there. But the Dawgs claim the top spot since the start of the BCS in 1998, thanks to their array of run-stuffing inside linebackers, pass-rushing specialists on the outside and do-it-all guys cut from the mold of Boss Bailey, who was the heartbeat of the 2002 Georgia defense that ranked fourth nationally in scoring.

Georgia finished just ahead of SEC counterpart Alabama, which has also produced great linebackers over the years. Good luck finding a more versatile linebacker in recent years than C.J. Mosley, one of nine Alabama linebackers to be picked in the NFL draft in the past six years. Speaking of Penn State, it's hard to find a more decorated trio at one school in the past 20 years than LaVar Arrington, Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor, though the folks at Ohio State would be quick to counter with such legendary names as Andy Katzenmoyer, James Laurinaitis and A.J. Hawk. -- Chris Low

1. Georgia
Notable players: Roquan Smith, Justin Houston, Alec Ogletree

2. Alabama
Notable players: C.J. Mosley, Rolando McClain, Dont'a Hightower

3. Ohio State
Notable players: A.J. Hawk, Andy Katzenmoyer, James Laurinaitis

4. USC
Notable players: Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews, Chris Claiborne

5. Penn State
Notable players: LaVar Arrington, Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor

6. Oklahoma
Notable players: Curtis Lofton, Teddy Lehman, Rocky Calmus

7. UCLA
Notable players: Robert Thomas, Anthony Barr, Myles Jack

8. Florida State
Notable players: Ernie Sims, Lawrence Timmons, Tommy Polley

9. Michigan
Notable players: Devin Bush, LaMarr Woodley, Larry Foote

10. Florida
Notable players: Brandon Spikes, Jarrad Davis, Jevon Kearse

ESPN Stats & Information contributed to this story.

The San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday promoted longtime general manager R.C. Buford to CEO of Spurs Sports & Entertainment, moving assistant general manager Brian Wright to the GM position.

Buford, a two-time NBA Executive of the Year, had served as general manager since 2002 and was given the title of president of sports franchises in 2008. He has been with the Spurs since joining the front office in 1994.

Under Buford, the Spurs won four NBA titles (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014).

Wright had served as the Spurs' assistant GM since 2016. He previously worked for the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons.

After months of deliberating a handful of offers, New Orleans Pelicans rookie and No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Zion Williamson has signed a multiyear shoe deal with Jordan Brand.

"I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the Jordan Brand family," Williamson said. "Since I was a kid, I dreamed of making it to the league and having the type of impact on the game Michael Jordan had and continues to have today. He was one of those special athletes I looked up to, and I really can't express how happy and excited I am for this journey."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though multiple competitor brands had offered the rookie sensation more than $10 million annually in their negotiations, according to industry sources.

Williamson announced the signing on Instagram on Tuesday.

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Let's Dance #JUMPMAN

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Jordan Brand called a special all-employees meeting Tuesday morning, just after Williamson's post on Instagram, to announce the signing internally. The brand has short-term plans to launch digital billboards featuring Williamson that are slated to go live in key markets later in the day.

"Zion's incredible determination, character and play are inspiring," Jordan said. "He's an essential part of the new talent that will help lead the brand into the future. He told us he would 'shock the world,' and asked us to believe him. We do."

Williamson and his family were hosted at Nike's sprawling Beaverton, Oregon, campus before the NBA draft on June 10, where they received an extensive tour of the company's headquarters and saw future product mock-ups and apparel designs.

With more than 67% of NBA players currently wearing Nike basketball sneakers, the company has been looking to inject more energy and youthfulness into its Jordan Brand subsidiary roster of athletes -- around 7% of the league.

Jordan Brand currently features signature sneakers for both Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul, with Williamson expected to be the future face of the brand.

"Over the last 34 years we've built an incredible roster of talent with the same determination and greatness as MJ," said Howard White, Jordan vice president of brand affairs. "There is something special about Zion that reminds me of MJ when he was younger."

After hearing concerns from owners and fielding inquiries from top agents over the past several weeks, the NBA has opened an investigation into how free agency operated this summer, multiple league sources told ESPN.

The scope of the investigation is still being determined, but sources say it will likely focus on some of the earliest reported deals on June 30 -- the first day teams and representatives for free agents are technically allowed to speak. League officials are expected to begin scheduling interviews in the coming days as they seek to gather information, sources said. There is no timetable for its completion.

The urgency for this step grew out of the board of governors meeting earlier this month in Las Vegas, sources said. During the meeting, owners raised concerns about the flurry of deals that were completed within hours of the official start of free agency on June 30, with the belief that tampering rules may have been violated, sources said.

More than a billion dollars in contracts were agreed to in the first 24 hours of the new league year, making it likely that negotiations had begun and in numerous cases were finalized well before the official opening of free agency.

The league has the right to punish teams for breaking league rules during free agency with fines and -- although rare -- the loss of draft picks or even the voiding of contracts.

It is technically against league rules for players to tamper with each other and work together on transactions before the opening of free agency. However, the NBA has set a precedent that it wouldn't punish players because it is too difficult to police player-to-player communication.

This summer, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George appeared to work in tandem on a free agency-trade scenario that got them both to the Los Angeles Clippers. This looked to league observers like a high-profile case of players and their agents creating a transaction involving third-party teams.

The NBA's investigation may not lead to any formal punishments, but the information gathered could trigger rule changes to the free-agency system in the future.

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced plans for a $100 million renovation project that will modernize their ballpark and give legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax a statue in time for next season.

The project, revealed during a Tuesday news conference that also unveiled the official logo for next year's All-Star Game, will feature a new, 2-acre center-field plaza that will include new food establishments, two sports bars, a children's play area and a space for live pre- and post-game music.

Dodger Stadium, the third-oldest ballpark in baseball, will also be adding new elevators and bridges to connect the outfield pavilions with the rest of the stadium. Fans will be able to watch the game from above a batter's eye in straightaway center field as well as new standing positions that ring the seating areas.

The left-field and right-field pavilions will feature new restrooms, enclosed bars with views into the bullpens, and enhanced seating for those with disabilities. New elevators, escalators and bridges will give fans the ability to walk the entire park's perimeter from any level for the first time.

The team's Jackie Robinson statue will be relocated from the left-field plaza to the entrance of the new center-field plaza, which will also serve as a permanent home for the "Legends of Dodger Baseball" plaques. Koufax will join Robinson as the only Dodgers to get a statue at Dodger Stadium.

Only Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston are older than Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962 and will host the All-Star Game for the second time next summer.

Former major league pitcher Dwight Gooden was charged with driving while intoxicated in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday, his second arrest in the past two months.

Gooden, 54, was stopped after driving the wrong way on a one-way street, according to Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose. Gooden was taken to University Hospital for further evaluation.

He was arrested June 7 on suspicion of possession of cocaine and driving under the influence, among other charges, in Holmdel, New Jersey, after he was stopped for a traffic violation.

A court date in the Holmdel case had been set for Tuesday.

The 1985 National League Cy Young Award winner has struggled with drug and alcohol addiction over the years. He was suspended from baseball for part of the 1994 season and all of the 1995 season after testing positive for cocaine. He has been arrested several times and served jail time in 2006 for drug use.

MOOSIC, Pa. -- At the mere mention of his Baseball Hall of Fame hero's name, the 20-year-old melted.

Why do you like Pedro Martinez so much?

A wide, gleeful smile -- often a familiar sight on Deivi Garcia's clean-shaven baby face -- had formed as the starting pitcher, deemed by most baseball insiders to currently be the New York Yankees' most-prized prospect, answered his favorite question of a recent one-on-one interview session.

"When I was a kid, like 13, 14 years old, a lot of people back home called me, 'Hey, Little Pedro, Little Pedro,'" the Dominican Republic-born Garcia said to ESPN via a translator last week inside his new home ballpark. "It's because [like Martinez] I'm not that tall like every other pitcher. I also used to throw a lot of curve balls too, like Pedro did."

The comparisons don't stop there. The 5-foot-9, nearly 170-pound Garcia is credited with having a mound presence and pitching bullishness that belies his slight-in-stature frame and is reminiscent of what his countryman Martinez displayed even in the earliest days of his illustrious, eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award-winning career.

And to be clear, these are still very early days for Garcia. After a recent promotion, the right-hander -- signed by the Yankees barely a month after his 16th birthday and three weeks before Martinez's induction into Cooperstown four years ago -- is now two starts into his tenure with New York's Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

It might not be the only promotion he receives this season. The deeper into the second half we get and the more the injury-ravaged Yankees pull further away in the American League East standings, Garcia could be part of their late-season plans.

"I know the next level is the major leagues, but I'm still trying to work hard and don't get [over] confident, and still work and stick to my routines," Garcia said. "If I reach that level this year, I will still have a lot of the same stuff going on: I have to stick to my plan every time I go out and just do what I can to help the team win."

Although he didn't factor in the decision, Garcia allowed just one run in a four-walk, three-inning, 75-pitch outing on Saturday. The RailRiders ultimately got the win, just as they did in his Triple-A debut the week before. Garcia is slated to pitch again at the Louisville Bats on Friday.

"He'll miss some pitches every once in a while, he hasn't totally figured out command yet but his stuff is excellent," RailRiders manager Jay Bell said. "Whenever you see stuff in a guy, you think, 'Yeah, this guy's got a chance.'

"You watch him on the mound, and his mound presence is extraordinary for a 20-year-old. He handles himself extremely well. He doesn't let things affect him very much. He gave up a homer [in his RailRiders debut], and it did not faze him. He got the ball, went back on the mound and held himself very erect, and you knew he had command of that bump out there."

As Bell, who also briefly managed Garcia last year with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, added, "When you have a guy that has that ability, along with the stuff, now you put that together and it's pretty special. He's got a bright future ahead of him."

Although he has been with them for only two weeks, a few of Garcia's teammates at Triple-A are already calling him "the real deal."

With a whopping 124 strikeouts through a combined 76⅔ innings at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, Garcia this season has made himself into the kind of strikeout machine that other teams are coveting as next week's trade deadline approaches.

Per a report by ESPN's Jeff Passan, it remains possible for the Yankees to deal Garcia away in a trade for a controllable starting pitcher to shore up their rotation. That is to say, the only way New York would part with Garcia in the next eight days is if they received in return a veteran pitcher who was not scheduled to hit free agency next offseason.

But trade chatter aside, Garcia remains a highly regarded part of the Yankees' farm system. His rapid ascent this year alone portends a promising future in pinstripes.

"He's one of those guys that's been on the radar the last couple of years," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Last year, having a really good year, and then obviously this year, taking it to another level and getting the attention of not only us, but all of the baseball world knowing about him now."

Following a 2018 season in which he compiled a 2.55 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 74 innings at varying levels of Class A ball and with Double-A Trenton, Garcia rolled through the first half this season, continuing to keep his ERA low and strikeouts high. Earlier this month, while still pitching for the Thunder, he started the Futures Game during MLB's All-Star Week in Cleveland.

Channeling his idol, Garcia had a clean inning of work in MLB's premium prospect showcase, striking out the side. Martinez famously struck out the side 1-2-3 in the opening frame of the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park during his second season with the Boston Red Sox.

"I kind of had an idea that something big was coming after that," Garcia said of his brief, K-filled outing.

By the fifth inning, it came.

Contacted in the middle of the inning by his Double-A manager, Pat Osborn, Garcia ended up getting asked his most memorable question of the year.

"You know you're going to Triple-A after this game?" Osborn said during the phone call.

He did then.

While Garcia has been pleased with the strides he has made this year, he still doesn't seem surprised by what has led to his rise thus far: an ability to get a lot of strikeouts. He has had it since becoming a professional player.

"In '15, I figured out that I can strike out people -- and that I love to really make the hitter confused," Garcia said. "I know that's a big part of my pitching game. So, I just try to compete against everybody and strike out everybody I can."

Strikeouts were a key part of Martinez's game too. He had 3,154 across his 18-year career. He twice put up 300-strikeout seasons, and he led the American League in K's three times.

"Pedro was a guy with three elite pitches and with 80 command with each of them," said Boone, referring to the highest number a player can receive on the scouting grade scale. "You're talking about rare, nasty stuff. He can throw them all and dot them all. That's the ultimate weapon, when you've got command plus pitches. That's what he was so good at."

Boone definitely would know. He faced Martinez seven times in his big league career. Boone collected two hits, including a double, while squaring off with Martinez. He also struck out once.

"I kind of enjoyed facing him, just in the sense that, it's kind of fun facing the best," Boone said. "You kind of know you got to be on it, and he could command it, although you know he also wasn't afraid to let it rip inside too. So it was a challenge, but it was a fun one."

At-bats like those Boone toughed through show up all over a YouTube video that Garcia credits with energizing him before he makes any start.

So here's how deep Garcia's admiration for Martinez goes: Minutes before he leaves to loosen up for a game he is pitching in, the righty plops down at his locker, grabs his phone, pops on a pair of headphones and pulls up YouTube, scrolling to a video that is four years old.

Titled "Video musical 'Hall of Fame': Homenaje a Pedro Martinez," it is a 3-minute, 14-second montage of Martinez clips set to the song "Hall of Fame," performed by the group The Script. Created to help celebrate Martinez's 2015 Hall of Fame induction, the video has more than 87,000 views. Garcia, who still has yet to meet his hero, has a large chunk of them.

"It's like a ritual," Garcia said. "It gets me pumped up."

There are moments in the video when fans wave the Dominican Republic's flag as Martinez pitches. Combine them with the song's varying crescendos and beat changes and there's plenty in the highlights to engender pride in Garcia.

Of course, parts of the video wouldn't excite most Yankees fans: There are two scenes in which Martinez strikes out Derek Jeter; another in which he gets Alex Rodriguez looking; one more when he threw up near Karim Garcia's head in the 2003 American League Championship Series; and yet another in which the lyrics "You can walk straight through hell with a smile" are sung as an aerial shot of a packed Yankee Stadium is shown before transitioning to a grinning Martinez.

"He could do so many things on the mound," Boone said of Martinez. "He could pitch up with the fastball. He could really make the fastball move and sink and do different things. As good a breaking ball as there was in the league, and then the changeup is the famous pitch. Pedro's as good a right-handed pitcher as there's been, certainly in my lifetime."

While no one within the Yankees organization is willing to make a comparison between Garcia and Martinez, there is still a belief that the young hurler with a mid-90s fastball and sharp breaking pitches could fully blossom in the coming seasons.

Part of getting Garcia to that point includes expanding his repertoire. During spring training, he started tinkering with a slider, adding it to his arsenal of fastball-curveball-changeup. For the past two months, he has used the slider in games. He even used it as the out pitch on two of his six strikeouts in his first game at Triple-A.

"I love that pitch. I love to throw it," Garcia said. "The slider has been great, because now people got more pitches to think about. I've used it a couple of times, and the hitters don't know if it's the curve ball or the fastball, and then it could be a slider coming. So that really helps."

It appears the organization already is seeing favorable depth and break to Garcia's slider, as well.

"Not only is it an extra pitch, it's a quality extra pitch," Bell said. "It gives that nice little separation, short lead break; it's not just that overhand curve ball that's just going to go down, it's going to away from hitters, also."

For now, Garcia's goal is to be patient with his overall development. As quickly as he has progressed this year, he is well aware that his next promotion could take some time. Then again, it might not.

"When it happens, I'm just going to be like, 'Wow,'" Garcia said. "If I'm smiling all the time here now, just imagine when I get called up. I'll be all smiles."

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – R.C. Enerson will join Carlin for the NTT IndyCar Series Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Sunday piloting the No. 31 Lucas Oil School Carlin Chevrolet.

“We’re excited to have R.C. Enerson and the Lucas Oil School of Racing on-board this weekend in the No. 31 entry at Mid-Ohio. R.C. really impressed us at Spring Training at COTA at the beginning of the season and we were very hopeful that something could come together at some point that would put him back in the car,” said Team Principal Trevor Carlin. “R.C. has spent a lot of time with our team this season and he has quite a bit of experience at Mid-Ohio, including an IndyCar start a few years back, so he should be able to jump right back in and make the transition a smooth one.”

Enerson began karting at the age of five and eventually made his professional debut in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Series, the entry level of the Road to Indy ladder series, in 2012. He spent three years there recording five wins and 11 podiums before he moved into the Indy Lights Series in 2015, where he spent the next two seasons of his career.

While in Indy Lights, Enerson recorded six podiums and one win in 2015 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Halfway through the 2016 Indy Lights Series season, Enerson left to pursue a seat in the NTT IndyCar Series and made his INDYCAR debut at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. He went on to compete in two more races of the 2016 NTT IndyCar Series season recording a top 10 with a ninth-place finish at Watkins Glen. Enerson participated in the NTT IndyCar Series Spring Training with Carlin in February.

“It’s really great to be back driving with Carlin after completing Spring Training earlier this season with the team. We’ve been working really hard to get something together to get me back in the seat at some point this season and I couldn’t be happier that it’s all come together for Mid-Ohio. Mid-Ohio has always been one of my favorite tracks on the schedule. I’ve just always loved the elevation changes and all of the high-speed flowing corners,” said Enerson. “I’m also excited to be able to carry the Lucas Oil School of Racing logo on the No. 31 this weekend. They are the official school of the Road to Indy Series and it’s been so rewarding to share my love of racing and to be able to instruct some of the future stars of IndyCar. I know we have some work to do this weekend, but I’m confident that with both my experience and the team’s at Mid-Ohio we can put together a solid result.”

BATESVILLE, Ark. – Scott and Marlene Mosley, in partnership with Jeff Taylor, took over the ownership and operation of Larry Shaw Racing on July 1.

With their acquisition they renamed the company, Shaw Race Cars.

“We’ve met many great people throughout the last 10 years of racing,” Scott Mosley noted. “When this incredible opportunity came along, allowing us to be more involved in the racing community, we couldn’t pass it up. We’re now just a few weeks into owning the company, but we are already loving every minute of it. Larry [Shaw] built an amazing repertoire of great racers and working hand-in-hand with them to help them reach their goals is a great feeling.”

In addition to their involvement in racing, the Mosley family also have various business endeavors within their home state of Arkansas. The opportunity to invest in the racing community was a dream come true.

“We’ve made a lot of great memories with our son [Travis], our family, and friends at the racetrack over the last decade,” Scott Mosley continued. “What Larry Shaw and his staff have built with their company over the past 40 plus years is extraordinary. To carry on the storied tradition of this legendary company is truly an honor.”

The existing staff at Larry Shaw Race Cars, including Larry’s son Kevin Shaw, have retained their existing roles as the company continues its transition to Shaw Race Cars.

“Larry [Shaw] has put together a topnotch staff, and we are excited to continue building on what he has in place,” Scott Mosley said. “Adding the expertise of Jeff [Taylor] only adds to what is already an exceptional staff. Jeff is now leading our development program, while also providing tech support both at and away from the track.”

Scott’s wife, Marlene, went on to elaborate on Taylor’s role in the new endeavor.

“Jeff Taylor is an important part of this transition,” she shared. “His innovation, knowledge, and skills are vital in achieving our goal to offer the same quality service and cars Larry Shaw Racing is known for.”

For Taylor, he’s relishing in his new position.

“Scott and Marlene [Mosley] are some of the finest folks you’ll ever meet, and I think the world of them,” Taylor stated. “We’ve got some big things in plan that I think will allow our customers to be even more successful. I can’t wait to see what the future will hold.”

Over the past 40 years, Larry Shaw Race Cars has built over 5,000 racecars, including both Modifieds and Late Models. Shaw Race Cars will continue to provide tech support and part’s services for all chassis, including past, present and future.

For Larry Shaw, he knows that he will miss being in the office each day, but on the same token he’s excited to see what the future will hold under the direction of the Mosley family.

“I couldn’t imagine a finer group of folks than the Mosley family to carry on the tradition of Larry Shaw Race Cars,” Shaw said. “Selling this company is not something I was sure I’d ever do, but always said if the right people came along that I’d definitely consider it. Well, the Mosley family is indeed the right folks to carry on what my family and I have built over the past four decades.

“I just want to say thanks to everyone, who has ever supported this company. I look forward to seeing what Shaw customers continue to accomplish for many years to come.”