In a shocking turn of events, former University of Missouri basketball player Jontay Porter has been accused of allegedly throwing games during his time with the team due to a gambling debt. According to sources close to the investigation, Porter’s co-conspirator, a local bookie, has been charged with conspiracy to commit sports bribery and fraud.
Porter, a promising young talent who was projected to be a top pick in the NBA draft before suffering a season-ending knee injury, allegedly began working with the bookie during his sophomore year at Missouri. The two reportedly made a deal in which Porter would intentionally perform poorly in certain games in exchange for the forgiveness of his gambling debt.
The allegations first came to light during an FBI investigation into illegal sports betting in the region. Authorities obtained wiretaps and surveillance footage that allegedly showed Porter meeting with the bookie multiple times to discuss game-fixing schemes.
The bookie, whose name has not been released to the public, was arrested last week and is currently being held on a $1 million bond. Prosecutors have stated that they have ample evidence to prove that he and Porter conspired to defraud sportsbooks and bettors by manipulating the outcome of college basketball games.
Porter, who is currently rehabbing his knee injury in preparation for the NBA draft, has denied the allegations, claiming that he never intentionally threw any games. However, with the mounting evidence against him, many are questioning his integrity and ethics as a player.
The University of Missouri has issued a statement saying they are fully cooperating with the investigation and taking the allegations very seriously. They have also vowed to conduct their own internal investigation to determine if any other players or staff were involved in the scandal.
As the case unfolds, the basketball world is left reeling from the shocking revelations. Fans and analysts are left wondering how such a promising young talent could get caught up in such a scandal and what the ramifications will be for his future career. Only time will tell how this sordid affair will ultimately impact Porter’s reputation and chances of making it to the NBA.