Nebraska guard Ahron Ulis charged in gambling investigation at Iowa
Iowa transfer Ahron Ulis was a late scratch from Nebraska’s three exhibition games in Spain despite making the trip.
A report by the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette Wednesday provided more clarity on why. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has charged Ulis with tampering with records in its sports gambling probe at Iowa and Iowa State.
According to a criminal complaint, Ulis allegedly played roughly 1,850 bets with total wagers eclipsing $34,800 – approximately $18 per bet. The junior allegedly placed more than 740 while he was under 21 years old, the legal betting age in Iowa.
The most significant issue was that the point guard allegedly placed at least one bet on an Iowa sporting event. It also charges that over 430 were on NCAA-sanctioned football and basketball games.
Per NCAA sports gambling guidelines, any student-athlete who bets on sanctioned sports – but not their own school’s games – is subject to losing half a season of eligibility.
If players bet on their school, they “will potentially face permanent loss of collegiate eligibility in all sports.”
Hoiberg gives the latest on Ulis’ situation from Spain
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg addressed Ulis’s status following the Huskers’ 86-83 win over the Valencia All-Stars on Wednesday.
Hoiberg said NU wasn’t aware of Ulis’ situation when he committed on May 1, but they did learn about a potential “eligibility issue” shortly after Ulis signed. The staff didn’t know of any potential legal charges until Wednesday.
Hoiberg said Nebraska had been cooperative with its compliance department and the NCAA throughout the process. That will continue until a resolution is found.
“We have no idea when this will all be resolved. We’ll continue to cooperate as well as we can through this.”
Ulis will continue to practice with the Huskers until more information surfaces. Nebraska will also keep looking for potential additions with its remaining open scholarship.
