URGENT UPDATE: Three former Eastern Michigan University basketball players have refused to cooperate with a critical NCAA investigation into potential sports betting violations linked to multiple games during the 2024-25 season. The NCAA announced this shocking development on Friday, revealing that Jalin Billingsley, Da’Sean Nelson, and Jalen Terry declined to participate in interviews concerning suspicious betting activity surrounding Eastern Michigan’s game against Central Michigan on January 14.
The investigation was prompted by unusual betting patterns detected by sportsbooks, particularly focusing on the first halves of three games last season: against Wright State on December 21, at Toledo on January 7, and at Central Michigan. In each of these instances, Eastern Michigan trailed at halftime, raising red flags in the betting community.
As part of the NCAA’s inquiry, the players’ phones were imaged on January 29. However, they have since informed the NCAA through legal counsel of their refusal to participate further and requested the destruction of the phone imaging. This refusal is a serious breach of NCAA rules, potentially leading to severe consequences, including prohibitions on future athletic activities.
The NCAA’s Division I committee on infractions emphasized the gravity of non-cooperation, stating,
“When individuals choose not to cooperate — particularly when cases involve potential integrity issues — those choices can and will be met with serious consequences including prohibitions on athletically related activities, the loss of eligibility and/or being publicly named in an infractions decision.”
Currently, Billingsley, Nelson, and Terry have exhausted their collegiate eligibility. Despite their lack of participation in the investigation, the NCAA’s inability to gather more information may prevent them from determining whether any actual betting violations occurred.
Terry was a standout player for the Eagles last season, averaging 16.6 points per game, while Nelson followed closely with an average of 16.1 points and was the team’s leading rebounder. Both players had previously played together at DePaul before transferring to Eastern Michigan. Nelson has since signed with Swiss champions Fribourg Olympic in July.
This incident is part of a broader investigation encompassing 13 athletes across six schools for alleged gambling violations. The stakes are high, as the integrity of college sports hangs in the balance. As this situation develops, the actions of these players could have significant implications for their futures and the broader college athletics landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds. The NCAA continues to face scrutiny over its handling of gambling issues in college sports, and the fallout from this incident could reshape the conversation around athlete eligibility and integrity in the game.
