Former College Basketball Player Reveals Why He Got Involved in Point Reduction Program
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Cedquavious “Dae Dae” Hunter was banned from the NCAA for participating in a scheme in which he and two of his teammates shaved points to win money from a bettor.
Hunter, Dyquavion Short and Jamond Vincent were offered $5,000 in exchange for participating in the program, and at least seven games were influenced.
“I was hungry for money. That was it. Hungry for money. Quick money,” Hunter said in an interview with “Good Morning America.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners guard Cedquavious Hunter dribbles the ball during a game against UC David on January 26, 2023, at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, California. (David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
When first asked why he took the money, Hunter asked to “skip that question.” After wiping his tears and pulling away to compose himself, he elaborated.
“I just had a child. The school wasn’t paying me any money. So I was trying to get money to take care of my child,” Hunter said.
Hunter lied to the NCAA, claiming he “didn’t know anything.”
“But the whole time I knew everything. I was trying to lie because I thought I was going to get away with it,” Hunter said.
Hunter and his teammates would start playing their normal game early on, but would purposely misbehave later in the match so as not to arouse suspicion.
NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis on March 12, 2020 (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, file)
PITTSBURGH COACH PAT NARDUZZI RIPS DECISION TO ALLOW NCAA ATHLETES TO BET ON PROFESSIONAL SPORTS: ‘BAD DEAL’
The NCAA said last month it was investigating at least 30 current or former players for gambling allegations. The NCAA also banned three college basketball players in September for betting on their own games at Fresno and San Jose States.
The violations at New Orleans against Hunter, Short and Vincent came to light after the NCAA received a tip about game manipulation. The NCAA said a student-athlete overheard the three players discussing a third party placing a bet on their game against McNeese State on Dec. 28, 2024. New Orleans lost 86-61. This same student-athlete reported that during a timeout near the end of the game, Short asked him not to score any more points.
New Orleans has suspended all three student-athletes for the remainder of the season while it investigates the allegations.
The NCAA logo on center court before games in the men’s college basketball championship tournament at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on March 18, 2015. (Associated Press)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The NCAA investigation determined that the three players manipulated their performances in seven games from December to January to lose more points than the margin in those games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital sports coverage onand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
