Ex-Eastern Michigan basketball players defy NCAA betting inquiry
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At least three former Eastern Michigan men’s basketball players have refused to cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation into questionable sports betting activities, the governing body of college athletics announced Friday.
Many matches from the 2024-25 season are under investigation.
The NCAA viewed the personal phones of Jalin Billingsley, Da’Sean Nelson and Jalen Terry in January. The investigation stemmed from unusual betting activity related to Eastern Michigan’s Jan. 14 matchup against Central Michigan, according to findings released Friday.
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The Eastern Michigan Eagles logo is on the ground before a college basketball game against the Detroit Mercy Titans at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on December 18, 2022 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
The players chose not to participate in the interviews and later informed NCAA officials through legal counsel that they did not intend to cooperate with the investigation. In the statement, it was stated that three former Eagles athletes also requested the deletion of their phone images.
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Failure of the three to cooperate is considered an NCAA violation and may result in permanent loss of eligibility. However, the eligibility periods of the players mentioned in the investigation have already expired.
NCAA officials stated that a lack of cooperation stalled the investigation because enforcement staff were unable to determine whether sports gambling violations occurred.
Eastern Michigan Eagles logo on chairs before a college basketball game against the Detroit Mercy Titans at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on December 18, 2022 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
“When individuals choose not to cooperate — especially when potential integrity issues are involved — those choices can and will be met with serious consequences, including a ban on athletics-related activities, loss of eligibility, and/or being publicly cited in a violation decision,” the Division I Infractions Committee said in a statement. The statement was included.
Eastern Michigan Eagles logo on a pair of shorts during a college basketball game against the Detroit Mercy Titans at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on December 18, 2022 in Ypsilanti, Michigan. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital Terry was unable to reach Nelson or Billingsley for comment on Friday.
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Terry’s 16.6 points per game in the 2024-25 season continues to lead the Eagles in scoring. Nelson, a former DePaul athlete who transferred to Eastern Michigan, averaged 16.1 points per contest last season. In July, Nelson reached an agreement on a contract with the Friborg Olympic Basket of the Swiss Basketball League.
13 athletes from six different schools, including a trio of former Eastern Michigan players, are under NCAA investigation for alleged sports betting violations.
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