Report: Defendants in NCAA Basketball Federal Scandal to Be Arraigned Next Week

Defendants in the FBI's investigation into bribery in college basketball will be arraigned in New York City next Wednesday, Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel reported Thursday. 

A grand jury indicted eight people connected to the case Tuesday. Among those indicted were four NCAA assistant coaches: Auburn Tigers assistant Chuck Person, Arizona assistant Emanuel Richardson, USC assistant Tony Bland and Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans.

Following a two-year investigation, the FBI discovered illicit payments made in order to secure commitments of blue-chip recruits.

Prosecutors allege the four assistants "[used] bribes to influence star athletes' choice of schools, shoe sponsors and agents," according to ESPN.com.

ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach highlighted a specific instance in which James Gatto, an Adidas executive, and Christian Dawkins, a former agent for ASM Sports, worked out a plan to give $100,000 to the family of a recruit identified as "Player-10," whom Schlabach wrote was likely 5-star small forward Brian Bowen.

The investigation has already resulted in Rick Pitino's ouster as the Louisville Cardinals' head coach. Schlabach reported Thursday that Dawkins implicated Pitino in the scheme. Dawkins claimed Pitino agreed to call Gatto about a payment Bowen's family had requested.

The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings are unlikely to end any time soon, as Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel wrote, "federal prosecutors have made no secret of their desire to expand the case and draw in additional names, programs and criminal conspiracies."