Forget about Bronny James being picked in the second round to play alongside his dad, LeBron, with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Or the Knicks making a draft day trade with the rival Brooklyn Nets to acquire Mikal Bridges. The biggest NBA draft story this week involved a player from Orange County, Kyle Filipowski, and has the basketball world buzzing and in disbelief.
This is the kind of drama that late tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer would have been salivating over.
Shortly after Filipowski was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round (32nd overall) on Thursday, published reports began circulating that Filipowski’s fiancée/former babysitter, Caitlin Hutchinson, brainwashed and groomed him to become a Mormon (Utah has a large Mormon population). The accusations were made on social media by his mother, Becky, and brother Daniel, gaining national attention from several news outlets.
Zach Rosen from Priority Sports, the agency that represents Filipowski, a former Westtown resident, did not return a phone call seeking comment for the story. Filipowski, who played at Duke University, was projected to be a first-round draft pick. However, his stock reportedly took a hit when NBA scouts learned that he was estranged from his family and that Hutchinson was at least six years older than Filipowski, 20.
According to Daniel Filipowski, his family has not had contact with Kyle for two years and a goodbye email was sent to his parents and siblings.
“You all don’t have a clue of the extent of the story that has to do with his girlfriend,” Daniel Filipowski wrote in a social media post. “There has been a story that has been pushed under the table for nearly two years now.”
Becky Filipowski ripped Hutchinson on social media, stating in part:
- “(Hutchinson) is 28 with an endgame 3 years ago to have a diamond ring on her hand when Kyle left Duke. HE WAS STILL IN HS.” Pictures of Hutchinson with Filipowski at his prom have emerged online.
- “She couldn’t find a spouse in her circle so she clawed an immature money maker.”
- Getting ready for the payout and getting his ‘genetic material’. Gotta put a bun in the oven soon.”
Filipowski’s parents still live in Orange County.
