A Western Michigan men’s basketball player is the latest target of an ongoing NCAA investigation into suspicious gambling activity involving student athletes.
Senior guard Justice Williams, a transfer from Robert Morris, didn’t play in WMU’s exhibition game against Kalamazoo, and he will not play for the Broncos until the investigation is complete, the university confirmed to The Detroit News on Friday.
“Justice Williams will not be participating in athletic competition pending the resolution of a recent NCAA investigation of events that preceded his enrollment at Western Michigan University,” WMU athletic director Dan Bartholomae said in a statement to The News.
“Williams transferred to WMU this summer and has yet to compete for the Broncos. Privacy laws limit the university’s ability to share more at this time.”
News of the investigation into Williams comes a week after the NCAA identified three former Eastern Michigan basketball players for their roles in potential sports-betting violations during the 2024-25 season. Former EMU players Jalin Billingsley, Da’Sean Nelson and Jalen Terry did not cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation, which earned each a penalty of ineligibility, but none of the three players had any college eligibility remaining.
Those three players were investigated after there was suspicious gambling activity on EMU games last season, notably a game against Central Michigan in January 2025.
The FBI now has sports betting squarely in its crosshairs, with the arrest last week of Miami Heat player Terry Rozier amid allegations of rigging his performance to align with wagers made by associates, and former Pistons legend Chauncey Billups for his alleged involvement in rigged poker games.
In announcing those charges, and more than 30 arrests across the country last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said those cases don’t involve college athletes.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the FBI is involved in this latest round of players under investigating by the NCAA.
The NCAA has launched investigations into at least 30 current and former men’s basketball players for sports betting improprieties, NCAA president Charlie Baker said last week. College athletes haven’t been allowed to wager on any sports, but starting Nov. 22, they will be allowed to wager on professional sports.
Baker has called for the elimination of prop bets, or bets that can be easily manipulated by a single player.
“We still need more states, regulators and gaming companies to help in this effort by eliminating risky prop bets to reduce opportunities for manipulation,” Baker said last week.
Williams spent the last two seasons at Robert Morris, but he missed all of last season with an injury. In 2023-24 he averaged 12.3 points. A native of Philadelphia, Williams, a guard, began his college career at LSU.
He was expected to play a significant role on WMU head coach Dwayne Stephens’ team for 2025-26.
The Broncos’ season begins Monday at home against Coastal Carolina, but Williams will not play in the game.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
