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A former men’s basketball player at Iona University was ruled permanently ineligible for his involvement in a point-shaving scheme in which he intentionally underperformed during games.
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Key Takeaways
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Adam Njie Jr. said he agreed to underperform two December 2024 games.
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A bettor allegedly threatened to harm Njie after he didn’t help rig the outcome.
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Njie transferred to Dayton and then Hampton but has not appeared in a game since he left Iona.
The NCAA announced Thursday it found Adam Njie Jr. provided information to known sports bettors before two Iona games in December 2024 during his freshman season.
In the first instance, Njie told the bettor – who was in cahoots with five other men – that he would underperform in the first half of a Dec. 1 game against Rice, which was a five-point favorite. The player ultimately did not follow through with his promise, and the game went into halftime tied at 35-35. The bettor had placed three bets worth $15,500 on Rice to cover the first-half spread.
The outraged conspirator threatened Njie with bodily harm for lying. Njie promised he would atone for his actions by throwing the first half of Iona’s next game against Sacred Heart, but Njie again said he did not follow through. Sacred Heart nevertheless took an 18-point lead into halftime despite being a 1.5-point home underdog.
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The NCAA’s bylaws prohibit sharing information with known sports bettors, even if games are not fixed.
Although Njie was held out of competition in the 2025-26 season, he was not found guilty in a point-shaving scheme that involved dozens of players. He transferred to Hampton in May.
“Our athletics department and compliance office will now move forward in accordance with all applicable NCAA and institutional reinstatement policies and procedures,” a spokesperson for Hampton told ESPN on Friday. “Hampton University remains committed to full compliance with NCAA legislation while ensuring that our student-athletes are treated fairly and with respect.”
Regulatory action
Njie’s insistence that he did not throw games is irrelevant under NCAA rules. Sharing information and participating in match-fixing are treated the same regulatorily and may result in a loss of athletic eligibility.
The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions does not possess the authority to enact legal punishment. However, banned individuals can only reclaim their eligibility with the help of an NCAA member school and at the discretion of the NCAA.
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The six conspirators connected to Njie were called “fixers” by the Department of Justice in an indictment released Jan. 15, according to the NCAA.
Njie appeared to have a promising college career. He averaged 12.4 points on 41.3% shooting and posted 4.2 assists in 29.3 minutes per game.
College hoops scandals pile up
College basketball has been rocked by numerous betting scandals in which players were paid or threatened and told to underperform. The January indictment named 20 individuals, with affected games involving Alabama State, Western Michigan University, Butler, St. John’s, Tulane, East Carolina, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Saint Louis University, Duquesne, La Salle, Fordham, SUNY Buffalo, Kent State, Ohio University, Georgetown, and DePaul.
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Marves Fairley, a defendant in the illegal gambling case involving NBA guard Terry Rozier, was also accused of participating in college-level match-fixing. Fairley admitted to paying a player, later identified as Rozier, to alter his performance.
The NCAA also announced earlier this month that four Alabama State men’s basketball players were paid to help rig outcomes, resulting in a loss of eligibility for everyone involved.
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