NCAA Bans Adam Njie Jr. Over Alleged Game-Fixing Links

NCAA Bans Former Iona Player Adam Njie Jr. – Decision Highlights Strict Enforcement in Alleged College Basketball Betting Scheme

Key Takeaways

• The NCAA has permanently ruled former Iona guard Adam Njie Jr. ineligible for allegedly conspiring to fix games during the 2024-2025 season.
• Njie Jr. has not been criminally charged but agreed to NCAA violations and cooperated with investigators.
• The case is linked to a broader federal indictment in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania targeting an alleged college basketball corruption scheme.
• The NCAA stated that sharing information with bettors is treated the same as point shaving under its rules, regardless of whether manipulation occurred.

NCAA Declares Adam Njie Jr. Permanently Ineligible

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has permanently banned former Iona men’s basketball player Adam Njie Jr. after determining that he conspired to fix games during his freshman season in 2024-2025. The decision was announced in a release last week.

According to the NCAA, Njie Jr. agreed to violations of association rules and cooperated with investigators. While he has not been charged with a criminal offense, the NCAA concluded that his conduct warranted permanent ineligibility.

Njie Jr. has maintained that he did not ultimately follow through on plans to shave points. The NCAA, however, stated that under its legislation, the act of sharing information with a bettor is prohibited and is treated the same as point shaving from an enforcement perspective. The association emphasized that even if a student athlete does not carry out manipulation, participation in such activity results in ineligibility unless reinstated with the assistance of an NCAA school.

Connection to Federal Investigation in Eastern District of Pennsylvania

The case forms part of a broader investigation described in a January federal indictment filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. That indictment outlined what prosecutors described as a sprawling men’s college basketball corruption scheme involving multiple former players.

Six men identified in the indictment as alleged “fixers” were also identified by the NCAA as the bettors connected to the Iona matter. The investigation into Njie Jr. emerged after NCAA enforcement staff interviewed a source involved in two other cases in July and September. That source indicated that two known bettors had contacted Njie Jr. about shaving points.

The broader federal investigation has also resulted in the conviction of Jontay Porter on fraud charges. Separately, former NBA player Terry Rozier is scheduled to stand trial in the Eastern District of New York in February on sports bribery charges. Njie Jr. is not reported to face criminal charges in connection with the alleged scheme.

Flagged Wagers and Specific Games Under Scrutiny

The alleged misconduct involved games during the 2024-2025 season. The Mississippi Gaming Commission flagged three wagers totaling $15,000 on Rice covering the first-half spread against Iona in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship in the Bahamas.

At halftime of that game, the score was tied 35-35, resulting in Iona covering the spread and the flagged bets losing. Njie Jr. stated that he shared information with individuals identified by the NCAA as known bettors before two games but denied following through on a plan to ensure his team failed to cover the point spread in the Dec. 1, 2024 game against Rice. In that matchup, he scored nine of his 19 total points in the first half.

The NCAA reported evidence that Njie Jr. was allegedly threatened by gamblers after the Rice game. According to the association, he assured bettors that he would make up for the losses in a Dec. 6 game against Sacred Heart.

In that game, Njie Jr. did not attempt a first-half shot as Iona trailed by 21 points at halftime and ultimately lost 83-59. The NCAA did not specify which wager gamblers allegedly sought to manipulate in that contest. The full-game betting line was between Iona -1 and -1.5.

Charging documents related to the broader federal case stated that alleged fixer Jalen Smith texted conspiring players during halftimes, instructing them to do a better job of rigging their games.

Targeting of Players and NCAA Enforcement Position

Federal prosecutors noted in the original charging documents that the alleged fixers targeted NCAA basketball players whose potential bribe payments would meaningfully supplement or exceed legitimate name, image and likeness opportunities. The documents further stated that players on underdog teams were generally targeted, with the objective of having those teams fail to cover the spread.

The NCAA reiterated in its release that the Committee on Infractions does not currently assess separate penalties for student athletes who violate rules. However, participation in violations results in ineligibility, and reinstatement is possible only with assistance from an NCAA school.

Njie Jr. transferred from Iona to Dayton in 2025 but was not permitted to compete during the NCAA and Department of Justice investigations. In May, he transferred again to Hampton.

Implications for Sports Betting Integrity

The case underscores how betting irregularities, including flagged wagers identified by state regulators such as the Mississippi Gaming Commission, can trigger broader investigations involving athletic governing bodies and federal authorities.

For sports betting markets, particularly those involving college athletics, the NCAA’s position clarifies that the sharing of insider information with bettors is treated as a serious integrity breach, regardless of whether point shaving can be proven. The overlap between athletic enforcement actions and federal criminal proceedings also illustrates how integrity issues can extend beyond individual games to wider investigations involving multiple players and alleged fixers.

Our Assessment

The permanent ineligibility of Adam Njie Jr. reflects the NCAA’s enforcement stance that sharing information with bettors constitutes a violation equivalent to point shaving. The case is part of a broader federal investigation into alleged corruption in men’s college basketball, involving multiple former players and identified fixers. Although Njie Jr. has not been criminally charged, the decision highlights how betting activity flagged by regulators can lead to both athletic sanctions and parallel federal scrutiny.