NCAA Investigates College Hoops Players for Betting on Their Own Teams
The NCAA has launched an investigation into 13 student-athletes from six college basketball programs over serious sports betting violations — including allegations that some players bet on and against their own teams.
Athletes from Arizona State, Eastern Michigan, Temple, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T, and Mississippi Valley State are reportedly involved in the probe, which also includes possible point-shaving — a practice where players manipulate game outcomes to affect betting results.
The enforcement team says it uncovered evidence through text messages, social media DMs, and other digital communications after noticing unusual betting activity tied to regular-season games last season.
“Thanks to our integrity monitoring program and tip network, we identified and followed up on multiple red flags,” the NCAA said in a statement. “In several cases, we confirmed clear violations of NCAA gambling rules.”
Importantly, none of the schools or their current coaching staffs are believed to be involved in the alleged misconduct.
Arizona State Again Linked to Betting Scandal
Arizona State University is the only Power Five school caught up in this investigation. The school has a controversial past with gambling: in the 1990s, ASU was rocked by a major point-shaving scandal involving former players Stevin “Hedake” Smith and Isaac Burton.
This time, the individual under scrutiny is BJ Freeman, a former ASU shooting guard. Freeman averaged 13.7 points per game before being dismissed from the team in February for behavior deemed detrimental to the program. Though he later committed to UCF, the school never formally added him to the roster — and sources say that may have been due to the ongoing investigation.
ASU confirmed to CBS Sports that the player in question is no longer with the university and that it fully cooperated with NCAA investigators.
Temple’s Hysier Miller Among Key Names
Former Temple star Hysier Miller, the team’s leading scorer last season, is also under investigation. He transferred to Virginia Tech in the offseason but was released from the program before ever suiting up — reportedly due to the betting probe.
The case has also expanded into a larger federal investigation. A gambling ring already under scrutiny for betting on NBA games was found to be connected to questionable wagers on games involving North Carolina A&T, Mississippi Valley State, and Eastern Michigan.
North Carolina A&T suspended three players last season — including top scorers Landon Glasper and Ryan Forrest — for “team rules violations.” Glasper, who denied betting, has since transferred to Southern Miss, while Forrest remains in the transfer portal.
NCAA Urges Stronger Safeguards in Betting Era
This investigation follows the NCAA’s permanent suspension of three players from Fresno State and San Jose State earlier this week for similar violations — betting on themselves in games.
In response, NCAA President Charlie Baker called for broader reform in the sports betting industry.
“We oversee more than 22,000 games annually, and we’re committed to protecting the integrity of every one,” Baker said. “As legal sports betting becomes more widespread, the risks to our athletes and competitions rise. It’s time for regulators and sportsbooks to do more — like eliminating prop bets and involving sports leagues in policy decisions.”
With the spotlight intensifying on college athletics and gambling, the NCAA is signaling that it won’t hesitate to act aggressively when the integrity of the game is threatened.
