for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
The NCAA has taken action against six men’s basketball players from three universities, suspending them for their involvement in manipulating game outcomes.
In a statement released on Friday, the college sports association revealed that its ongoing investigations into betting violations had identified three separate infractions related to student-athletes from the New Orleans Privateers, Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, and Arizona State Sun Devils.
These cases are not interconnected, highlighting a broader issue within college sports. The players affected, Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short, Jamond Vincent, Donovan Sanders, Alvin Stredic, and Chatton “BJ” Freeman, are no longer enrolled at their respective institutions.
Athletes received $5,000 for throwing a game
In the investigations surrounding the NCAA suspensions, it was revealed that the athletes involved received $5,000 for their roles in manipulating game outcomes. The violations centered on betting-related activities, with a student-athlete providing misleading information to bettors.
Specifically, Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short, and Jamond Vincent from New Orleans were found to have deliberately altered their performance in seven games during December 2024 and January 2025.
Their goal was to lose by a wider margin than the betting spread. The scheme came to light when another student-athlete overheard them discussing their plans regarding a game on December 28, 2024, and reported it to the university. This whistleblower revealed that during a critical moment in the game, Short instructed him not to score any more points.
Further investigation uncovered text messages from Vincent, where he communicated with outside parties, advising them to bet on the December 28 game because he and his teammates intended to “throw the game.”
The evidence indicated that the athletes were not only aware of their actions but also collaborated with others for financial gain.
Meanwhile, the NCAA’s inquiry into Mississippi Valley State was prompted by reports linking the school to an NBA gambling ring. It was found that Sanders shared information with a third party for betting purposes in two games, while Alvin Strredic did the same for one game.
Throughout the investigation, the implicated athletes provided false or misleading information, although only Freeman engaged in a negotiated resolution with his institution and admitted to his violations.
Fresno State incident related
The NCAA investigation into Freeman revealed connections to a previous case involving three former Fresno State basketball players, who were permanently banned in September for manipulating game performances.
This earlier probe was initiated after Fresno State’s coach, Vance Walberg, alerted authorities that a sports betting integrity monitoring service had flagged suspicious prop wagers associated with his team.
Freeman’s involvement became known when it was discovered that he provided insider information to former Fresno State player Mykell Robinson on four occasions between November and December 2024.
This information was intended for Robinson to use in placing bets on Freeman through daily fantasy sports accounts. The links between these cases highlight ongoing concerns about the integrity of college athletics and the potential for insider betting schemes.
More to come?
The recent suspensions are part of an escalating series of incidents involving betting violations and performance manipulation in college basketball. Following the bans imposed on the six players, the NCAA’s scrutiny continues to widen.
In September, shortly after the Fresno State players were banned, the organization announced it was investigating alleged misconduct involving 13 former men’s basketball players across six institutions, which included those named in the latest round of suspensions.
This ongoing investigation also extends to schools such as Eastern Michigan, North Carolina A&T, and Temple. In late October, the NCAA took action against three former Eastern Michigan athletes who did not cooperate with the inquiry into potential sports wagering violations flagged by the monitoring service IC360.
Betting rule change comes at the wrong time
The NCAA’s gambling rules firmly prohibit any player, coach, or team official from wagering on NCAA events or professional sports.
Since 2023, these guidelines have mandated that student-athletes who impact their own game outcomes or share information with those involved in gambling face permanent loss of their collegiate athletics eligibility.
The situation is unfolding as the NCAA considers a significant change: lifting the ban on student-athletes betting on professional sports.
While divisional management councils approved this change and announced it in October, the NCASS has since paused implementation due to backlash from key figures, including Southeastern Conference (SEC) Commissioner Greg Sankey.
Adding to the tension, members of Congress recently expressed their concerns about the proposed change in a letter to the NCAA.
Source: SBC Americas
