With the latest federal investigations into former NBA player Jontay Porter, former Temple guard Hysier Miller and now the latest news that then-Charlotte Hornets and current Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is also being investigated for his actions in a March 2023 regular-season game, the hole is getting bigger and deeper.
An organized alleged game-fixing web ring at both the collegiate and pro levels has been expanded and multiple college basketball teams could also be involved, SI.com reported Thursday.
Speculation has been swirling in college basketball circles about more schools possibly being involved and investigated, but according to the SI report, representatives from several schools that are believed to have players or games under scrutiny have not been contacted by investigators or NCAA enforcement representatives.
One source familiar with the investigations said the belief is the NCAA is letting the criminal inquiries play out, which has been consistent with how the NCAA has handled previous investigations.
Rozier possibly involved
Rozier, who played for the Hornets from 2019 to 2024, is the latest name to be investigated by U.S. authorities for potential playing time manipulation in 2023, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday.
This is reportedly part of the same probe that involves Porter, who was banned from the NBA and pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in July.
Rozier has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing, the report says.
The federal investigation into Rozier centers around a March 2023 game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and the government probe involves a ring of gamblers and poker players.
On Wednesday, Rozier scored 22 points (his second highest output of the season) in 33 minutes played with four rebounds and four assists in a 126-106 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2015 first-round pick out of Louisville has been averaging 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game this season.
The Heat visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Miller's involvement
Since November 2023, federal officials have also been investigating former Temple University guard Hysier Miller for allegedly manipulating NCAA basketball games, stemming from a March 7, 2024, contest which was flagged by sports betting monitoring company U.S. Integrity for unusual wagering activity.
U.S. Integrity alerted the American Athletic Conference and U.S. sportsbooks across the nation after it saw the line for a UAB and Temple game consistently shift throughout the day.
