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TJ Madlock has not spoken to anyone from the NCAA.
But the former Houston High standout, who became an all-conference performer on the Alabama State basketball team, is ready to fight to clear his name.
“I mean, I’m a little pissed off, honestly,” Madlock said in an exclusive interview with The Commercial Appeal on June 12. “It’s like, how could I fix a game I’m not playing in?”
Madlock is one of four former Alabama State players named by the NCAA in a June 5 report that claimed he – along with former teammates Amarr Knox (Bartlett), Corey “CJ” Hines and Shawn Fulcher – agreed to throw a game against Southern Miss during a Dec. 4, 2024, FaceTime call with a known sports bettor. Knox later told the NCAA he and his former teammates received “a total of $2,000” for their roles in the scheme.
But, after being removed from Alabama State’s previous game against SMU due to injury with 15:22 remaining, Madlock did not play against Southern Miss. He also missed his team’s next game, an overtime win against UT Martin.
Madlock told The Commercial Appeal he never participated in any FaceTime calls and never received money from anyone.
“Nothing that (the NCAA) put out is true,” he said. “I was added into a group chat, but I never responded to anyone’s texts. 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.”
Madlock, who has enlisted sports attorney Don Jackson to assist him, is pushing back against the NCAA. Jackson has already been in communication with the enforcement staff and will be formalizing a demand for a retraction.
“The next step will be to make direct contact with (the NCAA’s) general counsel and the head of the Committee on Infractions,” said Jackson, who represented Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway during the years-long infractions investigation stemming from the university’s handling of the James Wiseman eligibility situation.
“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.”
According to Madlock, the NCAA initially attempted to contact him via email, but “they sent it to an address I no longer use.” At that point, the NCAA contacted Alabama State coach – Madlock’s father, who is now the associate head coach at Memphis – Tony Madlock via email on Jan. 29, 2026. He forwarded the email to Alabama State compliance director Stephanie Thompson and athletic director Jason Cable.
“They came back and said, ‘TJ does not have to interview,’ since I was already overseas (playing professional basketball) and I had no more eligibility left,” said Madlock.
That was tantamount to “misadvisement,” according to Jackson.
“Everybody thinks when your eligibility is up, you’re done, you’re finished,” said Jackson. “The truth of the matter is that was bad advice. And what came from it is essentially equivalent to a default judgement.”
Had he been told what would happen if he didn’t agree to an interview, Madlock said he “would’ve 100% talked to them and told them my side.”
Madlock’s inclusion in the report has already negatively impacted his reputation, and he is worried the stigma will remain attached to him long-term.
“I want to be a college coach one day, following after my dad,” said Madlock, who averaged 8 points a game in a German professional league last season. “So, that’s a big factor in this. If someone wants to hire me and they go back and see this, then I might not get the job.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected], follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TJ Madlock disputes role in college basketball betting scandal, NCAA claim
Continue reading...
But the former Houston High standout, who became an all-conference performer on the Alabama State basketball team, is ready to fight to clear his name.
“I mean, I’m a little pissed off, honestly,” Madlock said in an exclusive interview with The Commercial Appeal on June 12. “It’s like, how could I fix a game I’m not playing in?”
Madlock is one of four former Alabama State players named by the NCAA in a June 5 report that claimed he – along with former teammates Amarr Knox (Bartlett), Corey “CJ” Hines and Shawn Fulcher – agreed to throw a game against Southern Miss during a Dec. 4, 2024, FaceTime call with a known sports bettor. Knox later told the NCAA he and his former teammates received “a total of $2,000” for their roles in the scheme.
But, after being removed from Alabama State’s previous game against SMU due to injury with 15:22 remaining, Madlock did not play against Southern Miss. He also missed his team’s next game, an overtime win against UT Martin.
Madlock told The Commercial Appeal he never participated in any FaceTime calls and never received money from anyone.
“Nothing that (the NCAA) put out is true,” he said. “I was added into a group chat, but I never responded to anyone’s texts. 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.”
Madlock, who has enlisted sports attorney Don Jackson to assist him, is pushing back against the NCAA. Jackson has already been in communication with the enforcement staff and will be formalizing a demand for a retraction.
“The next step will be to make direct contact with (the NCAA’s) general counsel and the head of the Committee on Infractions,” said Jackson, who represented Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway during the years-long infractions investigation stemming from the university’s handling of the James Wiseman eligibility situation.
“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.”
According to Madlock, the NCAA initially attempted to contact him via email, but “they sent it to an address I no longer use.” At that point, the NCAA contacted Alabama State coach – Madlock’s father, who is now the associate head coach at Memphis – Tony Madlock via email on Jan. 29, 2026. He forwarded the email to Alabama State compliance director Stephanie Thompson and athletic director Jason Cable.
“They came back and said, ‘TJ does not have to interview,’ since I was already overseas (playing professional basketball) and I had no more eligibility left,” said Madlock.
That was tantamount to “misadvisement,” according to Jackson.
“Everybody thinks when your eligibility is up, you’re done, you’re finished,” said Jackson. “The truth of the matter is that was bad advice. And what came from it is essentially equivalent to a default judgement.”
Had he been told what would happen if he didn’t agree to an interview, Madlock said he “would’ve 100% talked to them and told them my side.”
Madlock’s inclusion in the report has already negatively impacted his reputation, and he is worried the stigma will remain attached to him long-term.
“I want to be a college coach one day, following after my dad,” said Madlock, who averaged 8 points a game in a German professional league last season. “So, that’s a big factor in this. If someone wants to hire me and they go back and see this, then I might not get the job.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected], follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TJ Madlock disputes role in college basketball betting scandal, NCAA claim
Continue reading...
