Key Moments:
- The NCAA has suspended six men’s basketball players from three universities for involvement in game-fixing and betting-related violations.
- The investigation uncovered athletes intentionally altering performance and sharing insider information for financial gain, with payouts of $5,000 reported in connection.
- Current and prior integrity probes continue, with additional NCAA investigations targeting sports wagering violations across multiple schools.
Widespread Suspensions for Game Manipulation
he NCAA has suspended six men’s basketball players from New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State, and Arizona State. These bans stem from separate game-fixing investigations. However, the cases highlight a broader integrity problem within college sports. The suspended athletes—Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short, Jamond Vincent, Donovan Sanders, Alvin Stredic, and Chatton “BJ” Freeman—are no longer enrolled at their respective institutions.
Financial Incentives and Coordinated Efforts Exposed
According to the NCAA, each athlete received about $5,000 for influencing game results. The probe also uncovered cases where players shared false or insider information with bettors. As a result, investigators categorized the acts as betting-related violations. Hunter, Short, and Vincent, all from New Orleans, were found to have manipulated their performances in seven games during December 2024 and January 2025 to ensure their team lost by a margin greater than the betting spread.
The backdrop to these findings emerged after a student-athlete overheard conversations among the New Orleans players regarding their intentions for the December 28, 2024 game and reported the information. The athlete in question, Short, also instructed a teammate not to contribute further points during a pivotal moment in the game. Text message evidence from Vincent indicated active collaboration, as he informed outsiders to bet on the same game because it was being “thrown.”
Mississippi Valley State’s role was linked to an NBA betting network. Sanders shared game details for two matches, while Stredic did so for one. Consequently, both faced permanent removal from the program. Throughout the investigation, the implicated athletes gave false or misleading accounts, except for Freeman, who opted for a negotiated resolution and admitted his role.
Connection to Fresno State Scandal
The probe into BJ Freeman revealed ties to an earlier case where three former Fresno State players were issued permanent bans for manipulating games. This previous case began after Fresno State coach Vance Walberg reported that prop bets related to his team had been flagged by a sports betting integrity service. Investigators found Freeman supplied insider tips to former Fresno State player Mykell Robinson on four occasions between November and December 2024, facilitating Robinson’s bets through daily fantasy sports.
Investigatory Momentum and Expanding Scope
These recent suspensions are part of a rising number of betting- and performance-related offenses detected within college basketball. After the six athletes were banned, the NCAA announced further ongoing investigations into alleged rule breaches involving 13 former men’s basketball players across six universities, including the subjects of the most recent disciplinary actions.
The effort continues to include institutions such as Eastern Michigan, North Carolina A&T, and Temple. In late October, the NCAA responded to the non-cooperation of three former Eastern Michigan players in its latest probe regarding sports betting violations flagged by monitoring service IC360.
Policy Shifts and Regulatory Backlash
Current NCAA guidelines strictly ban all student-athletes, coaches, and school staff from placing bets on NCAA competitions or professional sports. Since 2023, the repercussions for attempting to impact the result of one’s own sporting event or passing exclusive information to gamblers include permanent ineligibility for further collegiate play.
Amid these investigations, the NCAA has weighed the possibility of ending its prohibition on collegiate athletes wagering on professional sports. Though divisional management councils initially gave approval and made an announcement in October, the change is now on hold due to critical feedback from stakeholders such as SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. Congressional representatives have also reached out to the NCAA expressing their reservations in a recent letter, escalating the debate on reform.
| University | Implicated Players | Nature of Violation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Privateers | Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavian Short, Jamond Vincent | Game manipulation in seven games; provided inside info to bettors | No longer enrolled |
| Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils | Donovan Sanders, Alvin Stredic | Shared betting info with outsiders during three games | No longer enrolled |
| Arizona State Sun Devils | Chatton “BJ” Freeman | Provided insider tips to former Fresno State player for prop betting | No longer enrolled |
- Author
Daniel Williams
