Pacers rookie Edmond Sumner is now represented by Sean Kennedy of Excel Sports Management, Sumner told VigilantSports.com.
Sumner had been represented by Christian Dawkins of ASM Sports, but he terminated that relationship after Dawkins was one of 10 individuals arrested as part of an FBI investigation into college basketball.
As detailed by ESPN.com, “Christian Dawkins, who was accused with three others of arranging for payments of $250,000 to three high school players to sign with Adidas-sponsored schools, was also accused of recruiting college players for one prominent agent while he still had an employment agreement with another agent.”
Sumner told VigilantSports.com in the days after the investigation was made public that he had talked with his family about what’s next for him and would soon finalize what was next. Players must wait 15 days to sign with another agent.
Kennedy also helps represent Charlotte’s Michael Carter-Williams, Atlanta’s Mike Muscala, Golden State’s Shaun Livingston, and former IU standout Jordan Hulls, according to RealGM.com.
“I’ll probably sit down with a few [agents],” Sumner said in late September. “I’ve already got a few people in mind so it’s not like I’m about to go on the open market. I’m just trying to get everything done now and get the hassle over with. I’m not trying to do this all over again.”
Sumner, the 52nd overall pick in June, was acquired by the Pacers in a draft night deal with New Orleans. A few weeks later, he became the first player to be signed to a two-way deal by the Pacers. It was for two years, the most allowed.
Alex Poythress later was also signed to a two-way contract.
Sumner was cleared for contact work this month, spent time in Fort Wayne last week working out with the Mad Ants, and is now back with the Pacers.
“I’m itching to get out there, but I need to be patient,” he said during training camp. “Once I’m out there, I’m out there. I don’t want to have any mishaps. So I’m going to sit back, be patient, do what everybody tells me to do, and just use my mind right now.”
It’s been an unusual season for the rookie, having to deal with rehab from an ACL injury and switching agents. He’s taking the “everything happens for a reason” approach.