Former HBCU players hit with NCAA integrity violations

The NCAA has announced sports-betting integrity violations involving former members of Alabama State’s men’s basketball team. Per the NCAA’s statement released on Friday, the violations occurred during the 2024-2025 season and involved four individuals who are no longer with the Hornets basketball team.

Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines and Tony Madlock were named in the report. The NCAA ruled that all four former players are permanently ineligible for NCAA competition. None of the four are currently competing in NCAA athletics. The organization classified their actions as Level I violations, the most severe category under its enforcement structure. Alabama State was not penalized.

NCAA documents revealed that the alleged sports betting scheme came to light after one player, Hines, was contacted by the FBI following his transfer to Temple University. During the investigation, teammate Knox told NCAA enforcement staff that a bettor connected to a group later indicted on federal wire fraud and bribery charges had contacted players before Alabama State’s game against Southern Mississippi in December 2024.

According to NCAA records, Knox told investigators that he, Fulcher, Hines and Madlock participated in a call with a bettor and agreed to manipulate the outcome of Alabama State’s game against Southern Mississippi. He alleged that he, Fulcher, Hines, and Madlock collectively received $2,000 in exchange.

The NCAA also found that Fulcher and Hines failed to cooperate with the investigation. According to the report, both players provided false or misleading information to enforcement staff when questioned about their involvement with bettors and participation in calls related to the Southern Mississippi game.

The NCAA said evidence showed both players received payments for participating in the call and sharing information with individuals involved in sports betting. Madlock, meanwhile, declined to participate in an interview with investigators. The NCAA determined that Fulcher and Hines committed additional ethical conduct violations by providing false or misleading information during the investigation.

In January 2026, Fulcher and Hines were formally charged by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania in connection with the alleged scheme involving Alabama State’s game against Southern Mississippi. The indictment included allegations of sports wagering bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Alabama State also issued a statement following the NCAA’s decision.

“Alabama State University was made aware of an NCAA inquiry in January and has since been notified of the negotiated resolution related to sports betting allegations involving former Hornet men’s basketball student-athletes. Although the institution is not a party to this case, it fully cooperated with the NCAA throughout this matter. Alabama State University, its athletics program, and its personnel remain committed to integrity and compliance and will continue to operate with transparency,” the statement read.

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