HBCU athlete at center of NCAA gambling scandal issues statement

An HBCU athlete at the center of the NCAA gambling scandal is denying any involvement. Former North Carolina A&T basketball player Julius Reese posted a statement to his social media accounts on Tuesday. In the statement, he announced his intention to enter the transfer portal and leave North Carolina A&T, and also vehemently denied that he broke NCAA regulations or was involved in gambling activities.

The letter is below:

“I want to clear up any confusion surrounding my name. Throughout the ongoing NCAA gambling investigation, my name has been mentioned, and I was suspended. I want to be clear — I was not involved in any gambling activity and did not violate any NCAA rules. I have fully cooperated and have documentation that clears my name. I was not indicted alongside anyone involved, including teammates who were named, and I had no involvement or connection to those situations.

This situation has affected me in both challenging and positive ways. Not having clear answers and seeing my name connected to something I had no part in was frustrating and difficult. At the same time, it pushed me to grow — mentally tougher, more disciplined, and more focused on controlling what I can control. I’ve handled everything with patience and maturity, and I continue to move forward with a clear mindset. I also want to say I have nothing but respect for my coaches and program.

I am in the transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility and focused on my next opportunity.”

The investigation into suspicious gambling activity surrounding North Carolina A&T and Mississippi Valley State started in January 2025. The two HBCUs were flagged alongside institutions such as Temple, Arizona State, and Eastern Michigan. Per a report by ESPN’s David Purdum, a gambling ring was placing wagers on North Carolina A&T and Mississippi Valley State basketball games.

The gambling ring was already being investigated for its role in suspicious gambling activity on NBA games. The investigation linked HBCUs North Carolina A&T and Mississippi Valley State to bets placed in the 2023-2024 season. Former North Carolina A&T players Ryan Forrest and Landon Glasper were flagged in the investigation and reportedly denied cooperation with the NCAA.

However, in a statement obtained by Purdum in his ESPN report, Forrest says that he participated and cooperated with the investigation fully.

“They just know how to feed the world a story to defame a person[‘s] character,” Forrest said.

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