Dayton Holds Out Transfer In Connection With Widespread Sports Gambling Probe

Dayton men's hoops announced Sunday night that it is withholding Iona transportation Adam Njie from title owed to "[eligibility] matters that occurred anterior to his enrollment astatine nan university."  The schoolhouse says it was notified of nan rumor by nan NCAA.

Sources show Sports Illustrated that Njie’s business is connected to nan ongoing investigation of gambling-related activity successful assemblage basketball. It is unclear if Njie is nether scrutiny from some nan NCAA and national investigators, aliases conscionable nan NCAA.

“In ray of these concerns and nan ongoing reappraisal process, Adam will not beryllium participating successful diversion title astatine this time,” Dayton’s announcement said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for nan Eastern District of Pennsylvania is conducting a sweeping investigation of forbidden gambling, game-fixing and capacity manipulation successful assemblage basketball. That has evolved alongside nan probe by nan Eastern District of New York that exploded successful nan headlines past week pinch nan arrests of 34 people, including a ringing of gamblers colluding to make wagers based connected wrong information. The feds besides arrested a trio of existent and erstwhile NBA players—Terry Rozier of nan Miami Heat, erstwhile subordinate and coach Damon Jones and existent Portland Trail Blazers caput coach Chauncey Billups.

Some of nan gamblers charged successful relationship to that ungraded are suspected of attempting to hole assemblage games arsenic well, sources show Sports Illustrated. That investigation has ramped up successful caller weeks, pinch indictments expected successful nan adjacent future.

In September, nan NCAA announced that it was investigating gambling-related infractions cases involving 13 players astatine six different schools. The players were not named, but their erstwhile schools were: Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T and Mississippi Valley State.

On Friday, nan NCAA announced findings from its first completed lawsuit tied to nan gambling ring. Three erstwhile Eastern Michigan players were assessed Level I violations for refusing to cooperate pinch investigators. Their eligibility has expired, truthful they person not been fixed applicable sanctions. Eastern Michigan was not penalized either.

However, sources show Sports Illustrated that aggregate schools pinch existent players person eligibility concerns tied to nan gambling probe. Njie and Dayton are nan first ones publically known. 

The number of schools pinch existent aliases erstwhile players known to beryllium nether investigation by nan feds and/or nan NCAA is expected to astir double successful nan coming days and weeks. The NCAA is pushing to explain cases and notify schools of eligibility concerns earlier nan play starts connected Nov. 3. 

Dayton, a perennial Atlantic-10 Conference contender, opens against Canisius that night. Njie was expected to beryllium a contributor for nan Flyers this season.

Njie, who is from The Bronx, averaged 12.2 points and 4.2 assists for nan Gaels past twelvemonth arsenic a freshman. He was named to nan Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference all-rookie team.

More College Basketball connected Sports Illustrated