A federal investigation into gambling by NBA players has identified two HBCUs as targets in the gambling ring, according to an ESPN report.
The investigation states that unusual betting activity was aimed at the men’s basketball programs of Mississippi Valley State and North Carolina A&T, according to ESPN’s David Purdum.
Mississippi Valley State had no comment, but N.C. A&T athletic director Earl Hilton stated in an email to ESPN that the recent suspension of three basketball players was for a violation “of well-established team rules.” Hilton wouldn’t comment further, citing privacy laws.
North Carolina A&T’s Jan. 9 game against the University of Delaware was flagged for suspicious activity by Sportsbook as the point spread moved more than 50 percent, which is around the average for a first-half betting line.
Those accounts under investigation are related to unusual activity for Jontay Porter, now banned for life from the NBA, and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier during the 2022-23 season when he was with the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier has declined comment about the investigation.
