The NCAA have revealed that 13 former men’s college basketball players from six different programs were tied to gambling activities, including point shaving and attempts to influence game results.
The athletes, who previously represented Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T, and Mississippi Valley State, are currently under investigation for betting-related violations.
The NCAA has not disclosed their names, stating they will remain confidential until the infractions process is completed. None of the players are still enrolled at the schools where the misconduct allegedly took place.
According to the NCAA, the cases involve a variety of violations: betting on or against their own teams, providing information to third parties for wagering purposes, deliberately altering game outcomes, and in some instances, refusing to cooperate with investigators.
NCAA president Charlie Baker addressed the broader implications of the issue in a statement: “The rise of sports betting is creating more opportunity for athletes across sports to engage in this unacceptable behavior, and while legalized sports betting is here to stay, regulators and gaming companies can do more to reduce these integrity risks by eliminating prop bets and giving sports leagues a seat at the table when setting policies.”
The governing body emphasised that no coaches, staff members, or institutions are accused of participating in or enabling the violations, and schools are not expected to face penalties.
