NCAA Bans Four Alabama State Basketball Players For Gambling Violations
David Genge Published 15/06/2026
Four NCAA basketball players from Alabama State have been ruled ineligible by the NCAA for their roles in the manipulation of the outcome of games for betting purposes. This decision was reached following an investigation by the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions panel. The infractions took place during the 2024-25 NCAA men's basketball season.
One former Alabama State student-athlete agreed to his violations. However, the three other former student-athletes involved in the betting scandal chose not to participate in the investigation or were unresponsive to requests to appear when contacted by the NCAA. All four student-athletes were ruled permanently ineligible.
The Alabama State betting scandal came to light in 2025
The four players who were ruled ineligible by the NCAA — Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines, and Tony Madlock — are no longer members of the school's men's basketball program. They are not currently competing in NCAA college sports.
This betting scandal came to light in July 2025, after Hines had transferred from Alabama State to Temple. Officials from Temple informed the NCAA enforcement staff that Hines had been contacted by the FBI. Hines was shown text messages concerning a sports integrity issue when he was a student-athlete at Alabama State.
According to an FBI investigation, a bettor initiated contact with Knox. The four student-athletes were offered money so that the team would throw its game against Southern Mississippi on December 5, 2024. Knox's teammates, including Fulcher, Hines, and Madlock, then participated in a FaceTime call with the bettor the morning of the game.
At the time, Madlock told the bettor he was injured and was not going to play that night. The group agreed on the call to throw the game.
Cooperating with the investigation, Knox reported that he, Fulcher, Hines, and Madlock received a total of $2,000 from a second known bettor for throwing the game against Southern Mississippi.
Southern Mississippi won the game by a score of 81-64.
The players provided the NCAA with false information
The NCAA ruling found that each student-athlete's violations of ethical conduct rules are Level I infractions. During the NCAA investigation, both Knox and Fulcher were found to be providing the NCAA with false and misleading information.
Fulcher denied participating in a call with the bettor and sharing information with individuals who were engaged in sports betting. He would also deny personally betting on sports. The factual record shows he was paid for participating in a call and providing information to a bettor. There is also proof that he bet on sports through a daily fantasy site.
Hines provided false or misleading information when he denied participating in a call and sharing information with individuals who were engaged in sports betting. Evidence showed he was paid for participating in a call and providing information to an individual who was engaged in sports betting.
Failure to cooperate in an NCAA investigation — including knowingly providing false information during an interview — violates NCAA rules. Fulcher's and Hines' failure-to-cooperate violations are Level I.
Student-athletes who are found to have violated NCAA rules are ineligible and can be reinstated only with the assistance of an NCAA school.
Two Alabama State players are under indictment
In January 2026, Fulcher and Hines were indicted by the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on various fraud charges. The charges include bribery in sports wagering contests, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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