Corey Maggette Reported to Be Player Named in Duke Sexual Assault Investigation

A woman accused former NBA swingman Corey Maggette of raping her when he was a member of the Duke Blue Devils, according to the New York Times' Kevin Draper, Stephanie Saul and Marc Tracy.

Nancy Erika Smith, who is representing Meredith Watson, had said Friday her client was assaulted by a Duke basketball player and that she notified a university dean of the situation. Smith said the dean "discouraged her from pursuing the claim further."

Maggette spent one season with the Blue Devils and appeared in 39 games during the 1998-99 campaign.

A spokesman for Maggette issued a statement to deny the allegations: "It has only been through media accounts and a statement from Meredith Watson's lawyer that I first learned or heard of anything about these sexual assault allegations. I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my life and I completely and categorically deny any such charge."

ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf reported Duke was opening an investigation to examine the allegations.

Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters he hadn't been made aware of the allegations until Friday night and would leave things in the hands of the university.

Watson has also accused Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of raping her in 2000 when they both attended Duke. According to Medcalf, Fairfax was among those whom Watson had told about the Maggette allegation.