LEXINGTON, Ky. — An unnamed University of Kentucky basketball assistant coach received mention in the motion filed in federal court Wednesday on behalf of lawyer Michael Avenatti alleging under-the-table payments from Nike to elite high school basketball recruits.

Avenatti was charged with extortion in March after he allegedly threatened to go public with evidence of pay-to-play schemes within Nike's Elite Youth Basketball league similar to ones that sparked an FBI investigation largely centered on Adidas and its grassroots basketball league if the company did not hire him to conduct an internal investigation and pay his client, former EYBL coach Gary Franklin Sr., $1.5 million. Avenatti pled not guilty to the charge. His motion to dismiss on the basis he was being targeted for "unconstitutionally vindictive and selective reasons" outlined many of his allegations against Nike, according to a Yahoo Sports report.

The most noteworthy allegations in the report included alleged discussions about how much money it would take to pay 2019 NBA draft lottery picks Zion Wiliamson and Romeo Langford, a New Albany native, to play on a Nike-sponsored AAU team in high school.

Breaking:Nike wanted to pay Romeo Langford $20K in high school, lawyer Michael Avenatti claims

Background:Feds: Michael Avenatti said he had evidence Nike employees paid AAU players

Among the other assertions made by Avenatti in the filing is Nike EYBL director Carlton Debose "acknowledged in an exchange of text messages with an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky that Nike was funneling payments to high school players through at least ten different EYBL coaches."

The UK assistant coach is not named, and the filing does not mention any payments involving Kentucky.

According to the Yahoo report, the filing does not include specifics in many cases but "does suggest Avenatti has additional information and documentation detailing Nike’s conduct."

UK responded to the report with a statement to the Courier Journal Thursday morning.

"We remain committed to compliance in all facets of our athletics department and will continue to work closely with the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference when necessary on any and all matters."

Jon Hale:jahale@courier-journal.com; Twitter:@JonHale_CJ. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today:courier-journal.com/jonh.