Rookie: Money offered but it may have been 'a joke'

<p>Portland Trail Blazers rookie Sebastian Telfair said Thursday he was offered money during recruiting by someone who claimed to represent Georgia Tech, but wonders now if it just a hoax.</p><p>Telfair issued a statement through his agent, Andy Miller, which elaborated on the allegations made in a book that a Georgia Tech supporter offered the point guard $250,000.</p><p>Yellow Jackets coach Paul Hewitt and Telfair denied the claims on Wednesday. A day later, the player put a slightly different spin on the alleged incident.</p><p>"I was approached by a man who claimed to be associated with the Georgia Tech program and offered money. I dismissed the offer," Telfair said in his statement. "I've never had contact with coach Hewitt or anyone with the Georgia Tech program regarding this incident, nor was I ever approached by anyone or offered anything at any other time. To this day, I'm not sure if it was a joke."</p><p>Ian O'Connor's book, "The Jump: Sebastian Telfair and the High Stakes Business of High School Ball," says Telfair claimed he was offered the money to attend a specific school.</p><p>Telfair committed to Louisville but wound up skipping college altogether. He was drafted 13th overall by Portland.</p><p>In the book, Telfair never says the offer came from Georgia Tech, but O'Connor writes that a "person close to Telfair" revealed it was made during a Yellow Jackets game in Atlanta.</p>