TJ Madlock says he was wrongly included in an NCAA point-shaving case, denying he accepted money from gamblers after he left Alabama State’s previous games early and did not play the match that was reportedly fixed.
When the NCAA handed down permanent ineligibility earlier this month, TJ Madlock’s first reaction wasn’t legal strategy—it was anger at the idea he could have helped throw a game he didn’t even play.
In an interview with the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Madlock disputed the NCAA’s account of a point-shaving scheme that it says involved him and three teammates. Madlock. one of Alabama State’s four players ruled permanently ineligible. said he did not accept payments from gamblers to fix the outcome of his team’s 81-64 loss to Southern Miss on Dec. 5, 2024.
He left the Hornets’ previous game early—a 101-72 loss at SMU two days earlier, in the second half—and did not play in their following game either, a 103-93 overtime win against UT Martin. In the Dec. 5 loss itself, the NCAA case centers on a player who was not in the game.
“I’m a little pissed off, honestly,” Madlock told the Commercial Appeal. “It’s like, how could I fix a game I’m not playing in?”
Madlock said he was added to a group chat but never responded. He also rejected the basic premise that someone would pay him to sit on the bench. “I was added into a group chat, but I never responded to anyone’s texts,” he said. “Why would I respond, knowing I wouldn’t be playing?. Also, why would somebody pay me for sitting on the bench?. That doesn’t even make any sense.” He added that “nothing that (the NCAA) put out is true.”.
The NCAA’s punishment release said the players took part in a FaceTime call the morning of the game with one of the two known sports bettors involved. The NCAA said the players agreed to throw the game and received $2,000 for doing so. It also said Madlock told the bettor that he was injured and wasn’t going to play that night.
Madlock acknowledged he was implicated alongside three teammates—Amarr Knox. Shawn Fulcher and Corey Hines—but said his involvement doesn’t line up with what he actually did during the period in question. Unlike the others implicated by the NCAA. the report focuses on the fact that he did not play in the game that was reportedly fixed.
The dispute has quickly turned into an administrative question of whether Madlock was properly brought into the NCAA’s process. Madlock said he had never spoken to the NCAA during the investigation. The NCAA said Madlock declined to participate in an interview with enforcement staff.
Madlock said the NCAA initially reached out by email to an address he no longer uses. He said the NCAA then reached out to his father. then-Alabama State head coach and current Memphis associate head coach Tony Madlock. who forwarded the email to Alabama State’s athletic director and compliance director.
With no eligibility remaining after the 2024-25 season. Madlock said that if he had understood the consequences of not agreeing to an interview. he would have participated. “Madlock. who had no eligibility remaining after the 2024-25 season. said if he had known the consequences of not agreeing to an interview. he ‘would’ve 100% talked to them and told them my side.'”.
His attorney, sports attorney Don Jackson, said he is communicating with NCAA enforcement staff and will formalize a demand for a retraction. Jackson told the Commercial Appeal he will also make direct contact with the NCAA’s general counsel and the head of the Committee on Infractions.
“If it’s not corrected, (Madlock is) going to have no alternative other than to pursue legal action against the NCAA and selected individuals that were involved,” Jackson said.
There’s an added layer in what has been described as a scheme that depended on timely coordination—yet Madlock points to a simple contradiction at the center of his defense: he says he was not in a position to influence a result he never played in.
As a senior in 2024-25. Madlock averaged 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for an Alabama State team that won the first NCAA tournament game in program history—a 70-68 victory against Saint Francis in the First Four. After that season, he played professionally last season in Germany, averaging eight points per game.
TJ Madlock NCAA ban point-shaving scheme Alabama State Southern Miss March Madness sports betting Don Jackson Committee on Infractions Memphis associate head coach
NCAA always doing too much. If he didn’t play then how is it point shaving?
Wait so they banned him permanently but he left early and didn’t even play the fixed game? Kinda sounds like they just bundled him up with other dudes in a group chat and called it a day.
This is why I don’t trust the NCAA. Like the paper said a player who wasn’t in the game is the center of it, but somehow he’s the main problem? Also the “paying you to sit on the bench” thing… I mean people do weird stuff, so idk.
Permanent ineligibility in a situation like this feels insane. If he was in a group chat and didn’t respond, that’s not “point shaving,” that’s just ignoring texts? Unless the gamblers somehow hacked the FaceTime or whatever. I’m just saying this sounds like Alabama State got caught in someone else’s mess and they took it out on him.