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Four New Orleans Privateers players who’ve been suspended since late January are under investigation for possible NCAA violations related to sports gambling, the Association reported late Wednesday evening. The reasons for their suspensions were first reported in a social media post by college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman.
These players are James White, Jah Short, Dae Dae Hunter and Jamond Vincent.
Neither of the four have played since January 27.
The University has not officially announced that the players are under investigation for gambling related activities but an AP source, speaking confidentially, confirmed this to be the case.
“At this time I don’t have any more information I can give you on that,” interim Athletic Director Vince Granito said Wednesday.
New Orleans (4-25, 2-16 Southland) has lost all eight games it has played since the suspensions and is scheduled to play next at UT Rio Grande Valley on Saturday.
White was the team’s leading scorer, averaging 19.2 points a game.
The news comes the same day that New Orleans native and rap artist Percy ‘Master P’ Miller was named President of Basketball Operations.
Miller said he wanted to see UNO again resemble the program he enjoyed following when the Privateers advanced to the 1991 and 1993 NCAA Tournaments under then-coach Tim Floyd.
“This is our culture, this is our team and this is our family — and we want to give that family love,” said Miller, who played college basketball at Houston and Merritt College, dabbled in minor professional basketball and received several NBA tryouts before moving into coaching at the AAU level.
“Basketball saved my life and changed my life,” Miller said. “I’m challenging business people; like, don’t let this program die. We need you guys to be a part of this.”
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