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David Purdum
As college basketball season prepares to begin, NCAA gambling investigation with links nba betting scam According to sources familiar with the investigation, the status of multiple players at multiple schools is being impacted.
According to sources, one player has been dismissed from the team, and at least two are being prevented from competing due to eligibility concerns related to the investigation. The NCAA said in a release last week that it has opened an investigation into possible betting violations by nearly 30 current or former men’s basketball players. there are some cases the verdict has already been announcedInvolved Which includes former players For eastern michigan, fresno state And san jose state,
western michigan The senior guard told ESPN on Thursday Justice Williams The school will not participate in the tournament “pending the outcome of a recent NCAA investigation into the events prior to his enrollment.” That investigation is the NCAA’s gambling investigation, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge.
Williams did not play in Western Michigan’s exhibition game on Wednesday night. The Philadelphia native began his college career LSU before transferring robert morrisWhere he could not play the last season due to injury. Efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Sports Illustrated reported this on Friday eastern kentucky guard Amar Knox is also currently ineligible. Knox transferred from Alabama State, which the SI reported is a school of interest in the ongoing investigation. Eastern Kentucky confirmed to ESPN that Knox is ineligible under NCAA rules but declined further comment.
Earlier this week, two other schools said players were held out or dismissed. Multiple sources with direct knowledge told ESPN that the actions were related to the NCAA’s gambling investigation.
wisconsin It was announced on Tuesday that the senior forward eliza gray Was dismissed from the team due to “incidents prior to enrollment” at school. Gray began his college career at Fordham and played last season Temple,
dayton It was announced Sunday that he is blocking the second-year guard. Adam Najee From competition after being informed by the NCAA of potential eligibility concerns “related to matters that occurred prior to his enrollment at the university.” Ng previously played at Iona.
“In view of these concerns and the ongoing review process, Adam will not participate in athletic competition at this time,” Dayton athletic director Neil Sullivan said in a statement posted on social media.
Efforts to reach Gray and Naji were unsuccessful. A Dayton spokesman declined additional comment Tuesday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is also investigating allegations of point shaving in college basketball, according to sources with direct knowledge of the federal investigation. Sources told ESPN that federal authorities have interviewed several college athletes. Some of the bookmakers convicted in the NBA betting scandal have been linked to questionable betting on college basketball.
ESPN first reported That’s Marves Fairley, who was federally indicted last week in a betting case involving the NBA terry rosier And damon jonesQuestionable bets were placed on college basketball games in Mississippi casinos and betting was banned companywide. At the time, Fairley denied any involvement in point-shaving schemes when contacted by ESPN.
NCAA announced in september It is investigating 13 former men’s basketball players at six schools – arizona stateTemple, North Carolina A&TEastern Michigan University new Orleans And mississippi valley state – In its gambling investigation.
ESPN previously reported that charges were expected. The college basketball season ends on Monday.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello contributed to this story.
