Privateers’ Suspensions Tied to Gambling Probe

NEW ORLEANS — An internal investigation into potential NCAA violations involving sports gambling has led to the suspension of four University of New Orleans basketball players. These athletes, sidelined since the end of January, are under scrutiny, according to a source knowledgeable about the situation. The individual’s anonymity was maintained due to the university’s vague public comments, which cited unspecified “violations of team rules” for the suspensions.

Interim Athletic Director Vince Granito, addressing the situation on Wednesday, offered no additional insights, stating, “At this time I don’t have any more information I can give you on that.” The affected players, James White, Jah Short, Dae Dae Hunter, and Jamond Vincent, have not seen game time since the Privateers faced off against Incarnate Word on January 27.

Initial information regarding these suspensions was revealed through a post on social media by college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman. The New Orleans team, struggling to cope with the loss of these players, has dropped all eight games they have contested since the suspensions. They are set to play their next game against UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday.

Among the suspended players, James White stood out as the team’s leading scorer with an average of 19.2 points per game. In light of these challenges, the New Orleans revelations unfold amidst a backdrop of similar investigations at other institutions. For instance, Fresno State recently suspended two of its top basketball scorers and removed another amid allegations of gambling-related violations.

Adding to the drama in New Orleans was an upcoming announcement concerning the engagement of rap artist and New Orleans native Percy “Master P” Miller. Miller, who has a basketball background having played at Houston and Merritt College, and tried out for several NBA teams, will join as president of basketball operations and community engagement. Miller aims to revitalize the program financially and through NIL initiatives, reminiscent of its glory days in the early 1990s NCAA Tournaments.

Miller expressed his intent to rejuvenate the team, stating, “This is our culture, this is our team and this is our family — and we want to give that family love.” He called upon business leaders to support the program, emphasizing, “Basketball saved my life and changed my life.” He urged the community not to let the program wither away but to remain invested in its success.

However, there is uncertainty on how these gambling investigations might affect such efforts not only in New Orleans but in other programs. The situation at Fresno State was first reported by the Fresno Bee and has since garnered NCAA attention. The team, struggling with a poor season record, attempted to end a nine-game losing streak against Air Force but fell short with a 72-69 loss.

During this troubling period, Fresno State released a statement indicating that players Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins “are being withheld from competition as the university reviews an eligibility matter,” offering no further commentary. Mykell Robinson, previously scoring 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, has been confirmed by reports as no longer part of the team. Weaver had been contributing 12.5 points per game and leading with 4.7 assists, while Collins was averaging 12.0 points.