Iona Player in Betting Scandal Declared Ineligible by NCAA
David Genge Published 29/06/2026
Former Iona basketball player Adam Njie Jr. was ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA for his role in a match-fixing scandal in 2024. Njie Jr. provided game information to known bettors for sports betting reasons, according to an agreement released by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel. The former student-athlete agreed to his violations.
Njie shared information with known bettors ahead of two Iona games in December 2024 during his freshman season, according to the NCAA investigation. He had agreed with the bettors to ensure that Iona would be losing both games by the end of the first half of play.
Iona player insists he never followed through on the plan
The potential match fixing involving Iona games was first discovered by the Mississippi Gaming Commission (MGC). The MGC reported that bettors had placed three bets totaling $15,500 on Rice to win the first-half spread line against Iona in a December 2024 game.
In July and September 2025, NCAA enforcement staff interviewed a source in connection with a separate sports betting case. This person knew the two known bettors. The source said one of the bettors had communicated with Njie. The enforcement staff engaged with gambling regulators to identify wagers the bettor placed on men's college basketball games.
Njie, a freshman on the Iona squad at the time, confirmed he told a bettor he would throw the first half of the game. However, Njie stated he did not go through with it.
Njie says the bettors were threatening him with bodily harm
According to Njie, after the game, the bettor threatened him with bodily harm in retaliation for not honoring his commitment to throw the game. Njie told the bettor he would throw the first half of Iona's next game against Sacred Heart to make up for the bettor's losses. Again, Njie stated he didn't go through with intentionally losing the first half.
However, in that game, Iona trailed Sacred Heart by 19 points at halftime. Iona did not cover the first-half spread, winning the wager for the bettors.
The NCAA said Njie cooperated with the investigation and maintained that he did not manipulate his performance. Regardless, the act of sharing information with a bettor is prohibited by NCAA legislation and is treated the same as point shaving from an NCAA enforcement perspective. Whether the student-athlete goes through with throwing the game is irrelevant to whether discipline will be meted out for the player's actions.
Njie has since transferred twice to other NCAA schools
Njie transferred from Iona to Dayton for the 2025-26 NCAA men's basketball season. However, the school held him out of all games while waiting for the NCAA investigation into his actions with Iona to conclude.
Njie is not among the NCAA players who are facing indictment for their roles in a massive NCAA point-shaving scandal. According to federal investigators, the bettors who sought to get him to throw games were among those indicted, though.
At the end of the 2025-26 season, Njie would transfer again. This time, he'd end up at Hampton.
A Hampton spokesperson told ESPN that the school was aware of the NCAA ruling against Njie and would be honoring it.
"Our athletics department and compliance office will now move forward in accordance with all applicable NCAA and institutional reinstatement policies and procedures," the spokesperson told ESPN. "Hampton University remains committed to full compliance with NCAA legislation while ensuring that our student-athletes are treated fairly and with respect."
Student-athletes who are found in violation of NCAA rules are ineligible. Reinstatement requires the assistance of an NCAA school.
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