Former college basketball player gives reason for point deduction that led to NCAA ban: ‘I was hungry for money’
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Cedquavious “Dae Dae” Hunter was expelled from the NCAA for participating in a scheme in which he and two of his teammates docked points to win money from a gambler.
Hunter, Dyquavion Short and Jamond Vincent were offered $5,000 in exchange for their participation in the scheme, and at least seven games were influenced.
“I was hungry for money. That was it. Hungry for money. Quick cash,” Hunter said in an interview with “Good Morning America.”
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Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners guard Cedquavious Hunter dribbles the ball during a game against UC David on Jan. 26, 2023, at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, California. (David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
When initially asked why he took the money, Hunter asked to “skip that question.” After wiping away her tears and walking away to compose herself, she elaborated.
“I just had a son. The school wasn’t paying me any money. So I was trying to get money to take care of my son,” Hunter said.
Hunter lied to the NCAA and said he “didn’t know anything.”
“But I knew everything the whole time. I was trying to lie because I thought I was going to get out of this,” Hunter said.
Hunter and his teammates would begin playing their normal game from the beginning, but would deliberately perform poorly later in the game so as not to arouse suspicion.
NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis March 12, 2020 (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
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The NCAA said last month it was investigating at least 30 current or former players over gambling allegations. The NCAA also banned three college basketball players in September for betting on their own games at Fresno State and San Jose State.
The violations in New Orleans against Hunter, Short and Vincent came to light after the NCAA received a tip about game tampering. The NCAA said a student-athlete overheard the three players talking about a third party placing a bet on their game against McNeese State on Dec. 28, 2024. New Orleans lost 86-61. That same student-athlete reported that during a timeout near the end of the game, Short ordered him not to score any more points.
New Orleans suspended the three student-athletes for the remainder of the season while it investigated the allegations.
The NCAA logo at center court before the men’s college basketball championship at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on March 18, 2015. (News)
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The NCAA investigation determined that the three players manipulated their performances in seven games from December through January to lose by more points than the margin in those games.
The News contributed to this report.
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