Ex-UNO player admits to point-shaving scheme

Former University of New Orleans men’s basketball player Dae Dae Hunter acknowledged his role in a point-shaving scheme last season, telling ABC’s «Good Morning America» on Monday that he was motivated to get money to pay for his newborn child.

Hunter and teammates Dyquavian Short and Jamond Vincent were accused by the NCAA of losing or attempting to lose by more than the point spread in at least seven games for the Privateers last season. The NCAA ruled all three players were permanently ineligible.

In his first public comments on the matter, Hunter told GMA that the players were approached about the scheme by an unidentified bettor in Las Vegas. The shooting guard said he would not always try to make shots, «make a couple and miss a couple.»

«I just had a child,» Hunter said. «The school wasn’t paying me money, so I was trying to get money to take care of my child.»

Hunter admitted to lying to the NCAA when investigators initially reached out to him about his alleged involvement.

«I told them I wasn’t doing it,» Hunter said. «I told them I didn’t know anything, but basically the whole time, I knew everything.»