Four former Alabama State basketball players were paid to throw game in 2024, NCAA says

Four former Alabama State men’s basketball players have been slapped with permanent NCAA ineligibility following a damning investigation into sports betting integrity violations. According to an official announcement from the NCAA on Friday, the players accepted payment to manipulate the outcome of a game during the 2024-25 season.

The Scandal

The players identified in the scheme are Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines, and Tony Madlock. Investigators determined that the group conspired to influence the results of Alabama State’s December 5, 2024, matchup against Southern Miss. In that contest, the Hornets suffered an 81-64 defeat after being outscored 51-31 in the second half, despite holding a 33-30 lead at the break.

According to the NCAA, the four players received a total of $2,000 from two bettors. The illegal operation reportedly began when Fulcher added teammates to a group chat with a bettor, eventually leading to a FaceTime call on the morning of the game where the players agreed to the fix. Madlock, the son of former Alabama State coach Tony Madlock, claimed to be injured and did not appear in the game, while Knox, Fulcher, and Hines took the floor.

Discovery and Consequences

The investigation broke open in July 2025 after Corey Hines, who had transferred to Temple University, alerted NCAA enforcement officials that the FBI had contacted him regarding text messages related to sports integrity issues. The two bettors involved in the bribery scheme were indicted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in January on charges of wire fraud and bribery.

The NCAA handed down Level I violations—the most severe classification—to all four players. Furthermore, Fulcher and Hines were penalized for failing to cooperate and providing false information to investigators. While these athletes were significant contributors during the 2024-25 season—a year where the Hornets went 20-16, claimed the SWAC tournament title, and even secured an NCAA tournament First Four win over Saint Francis—they are no longer affiliated with Alabama State and are not currently competing in NCAA athletics.

University Response

Alabama State officials confirmed they were notified of the inquiry in January and maintained that the university was not a party to the misconduct. "Alabama State University, its athletics program, and its personnel remain committed to integrity and compliance and will continue to operate with transparency," the school stated in an official release, noting that they fully cooperated with the investigation throughout the process.