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The New Orleans Privateers basketball players who have been suspended since late January are reported to be under investigation for possible NCAA violations related to sports gambling, according to multiple reports, including ESPN.
James White, Jah Short, Dae Dae Hunter and Jamond Vincent have not played since the Privateers’ loss to Incarnate Word at the end of January.
ESPN reports that “Multiple gambling industry sources told ESPN’s David Purdum that a betting ring under federal investigation also placed bets on at least two New Orleans men’s basketball games this season.
“The Dec.28 game at McNeese State and the Jan. 11 game against Southeastern Louisiana attracted bets from the sportsbook accounts associated with the betting ring, according to the sources. The point spread moved significantly against the Privateers in three other games this season.”
ESPN had already reported that the ring had placed bets on other games involving North Carolina A&T, Temple, Eastern Michigan and Mississippi Valley State, as well as having ties to two NBA betting cases.
Downhill trend
The New Orleans Privateers has lost all of its eight games since the suspensions were activated. It will next take to the court this Saturday at UT Rio Grande Valley.
The Privateers earlier this week announced New Orleans native Percy Miller – better known as rapper Master P, as its new President of basketball operations.
Miller, who had pre-season stints with the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors in the 1990s, has pledged to bring back a winning culture, saying, “I’m here to make sure that these young student-athletes have the opportunities, resources and mentorship to succeed on and off the court.”
Meanwhile Fresno State has suspended two of its top-scoring players and removed a third player from the team amid reports that the organization is the subject of a gambling investigation.
There is no suggestion that the two cases are linked.
Featured Image courtesy of Pexels
