Four former Alabama State men’s basketball players have been ruled permanently ineligible after an NCAA infractions panel found they were involved in game manipulation tied to sports betting. The players are Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines and Tony Madlock. Each of them are no longer with the program and are not currently competing in NCAA sports.
The NCAA investigation began in July 2025 after Temple University alerted enforcement officials that Hines, who had transferred to Temple, had been contacted by the FBI regarding a sports betting integrity matter tied to his time with Alabama State.
According to the NCAA’s findings, Amarr Knox told investigators that teammate Shawn Fulcher added several players to a group chat with a bettor in December 2024 ahead of a game against Southern Miss. Federal prosecutors later indicted the bettors involved on wire fraud and bribery-related charges.
Investigators said Fulcher, Hines and Tony Madlock participated in a FaceTime call with the bettor on the morning of the game, during which Madlock disclosed he was injured and would not play. The group allegedly agreed during the call to intentionally influence the outcome of the game.
Knox told investigators that he, Fulcher, Hines and Madlock collectively received $2,000 in exchange for throwing the game. The NCAA classified the violations as Level I ethical conduct breaches, the most serious category under NCAA rules.
The NCAA also found that Fulcher and Hines failed to cooperate with the investigation by allegedly providing false or misleading information during interviews. Investigators said evidence showed both players participated in calls with bettors and shared insider information. Fulcher was also found to have placed sports bets through a daily fantasy platform.
In January 2026, Fulcher and Hines were indicted in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on charges that included bribery in sports wagering contests, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to the Southern Miss game.
The Alabama State case is the latest example of the ongoing issue of game integrity within college sports, especially as sports betting has grown nationwide. The NCAA continues to crack down on issues involving insider information and game manipulation.
In recent years, several college athletes across multiple sports have faced suspensions, eligibility losses and investigations tied to gambling activity. While many cases have involved athletes betting on sports in violation of NCAA rules, the Alabama State investigation centered on allegations of direct game manipulation.
The case also follows other recent betting controversies involving high-profile college athletes, including former Indiana and Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby.
It highlights the need for the NCAA to continue to emphasize education, monitoring and enforcement. The rise of sports betting has created greater risks involving athlete harassment, insider information and attempts to influence game outcomes. College athletes are more vulnerable than professional athletes, so the NCAA is taking this issue seriously.
