Cavs' Thompson says he paid for Kabongo's visit and was reimbursed

Tristan Thompson, left, said he was reimbursed for his expenses relating to Texas guard Myck Kabongo's trip to Cleveland.

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INDEPENDENCE: Tristan Thompson said he turned over evidence to the NCAA that he paid for Texas guard Myck Kabongo's visit to Cleveland over the summer, but that Kabongo's brother reimbursed him. 

Yahoo! Sports reported late Wednesday night that the NCAA is investigating Kabongo's relationship with Cleveland-based agent Rich Paul to determine if any violations were committed by Kabongo's visit here, which included private workouts with a personal trainer.

Kabongo and Thompson are childhood friends who grew up together outside Toronto, then attended the same high schools in both New Jersey and Nevada. Paul represents both Thompson and LeBron James.

If Paul financed the trip, it would be an NCAA violation. He has denied any wrongdoing and Thompson said Thursday after Cavs practice he financed the trip, but had nothing to do with personal trainer Jerry Powell working out Kabongo during the visit.

"I actually had to pay for it, but then his brother reimbursed me, which is totally fine by the NCAA," Thompson said. "I don’t see no eligibility issues, but that’s for the NCAA to figure out."

Thompson said he gave proof to the NCAA that Kabongo's brother, Billy, reimbursed him.

"Me and (Kabongo) went to high school together and we've been through a lot," Thompson said. "They (the NCAA) are not knocking the friendship, they understand that. They just want to make sure no outside sources are helping finance that trip. No one else did and we have the proof to show them. That’s what I provided to them and we’ll go from there."