Black Market

An Insider's Journey into the High-Stakes World of College Basketball

By: Merl Code

Narrated by: James Shippy

From a former college basketball player and Executive at Nike, a "riveting" (Sports Illustrated) insider's account into the business of college basketball exposes the corrupt and racist systems that exploit young athletes and offers a new way forward

For Merl Code, basketball was life.

In college he played point guard for Clemson before turning pro. Later, when he pivoted to marketing, he found himself thrust into a startling world of profit-driven college basketball programs. He realized that the NCAA's amateurism rules could be used to exploit young athletes, and athletes of color in particular.

Now, for the first time, Code will share his side of the explosive story of college basketball's dark reality—a system that begins with young talent in AAU programs and culminates at the highest levels of the NBA.

Propulsive, urgent, and eye-opening, Black Market exposes the truth to offer a more just way forward for both colleges and athletes.

©2022 Merl Code (P)2022 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

A true exposé

A true exposè on indentured servitude masked as amateur sports. The history of how Clemson University came to be says it all.

"NO JUSTICE" FOR OUR YOUTH

loved this Book !!
so happy that Lil Merl opened the window to give us a True GLIMPSE Into the sports 'underground'.
However, it is so sad that another young Black youth has rrceived NO JUSTICE

in side the basketball factory of universities

This book should be read by all parents & children of basketball promise as what they will be encountering with schools, shoe companies, agents.

Interesting

I was actually surprised that the " pay to play" system is so very well organized.

A Must Read for College Sports Fans

Not like we don’t know that money flows through college sports. Merl Code explains who profits the most, and it isn’t the college athlete. The victims of the FBI sting discussed in this book were the kids. The NCAA, colleges and coaches need to be held accountable.

He Got Game (the fifth foul on the system is here)

As Spike Lee filmed it, and P.E., put it on wax, "the game behind the game," is exposed.

Follow the money, and cover the corporate corruption, we continue to pay (more than) "mental rent to corporate presidents."

The snap shots into this world is interesting.

The cognitive dissonance required to keep clean as addicted consumers in this game makes one think.

The case is laid out. the essay is written well with its thesis, points, evidence, and explanations.

if you wanna see how the game behind the game fouls out, this is for you.

Essential Reading for Every College Basketball Fan

I found this book fascinating and incredibly troubling at the same time. While I think we are all aware that the NCAA's definition of "amateur athletics" is outdated and unrealistic, I was amazed to learn just how many people - shoe companies, AAU Coaches, College representatives, and just about everyone else involved with a young man who dreams of playing college basketball - are working around the hapless NCAA, and the even more hapless FBI, who promised us to "revolutionize" college basketball with its seemingly pointless investigation. The author has his own agenda, which comes through. But that doesn't mean he's wrong.

Great book on what REALLY goes on in the NCAA!!!

Great book on what REALLY goes on in the NCAA!!!

Highly recommend you read it. Great job Merl…