A former University of San Francisco men's basketball player was declared permanently ineligible for collegiate athletics following an NCAA investigation into infractions of sports betting regulations.
Marcus Williams, a starting guard for the Dons in the 2024-2025 season, was found to have improperly disclosed information about his on-court performance to a student-athlete from a different school.
Key Takeaways
- The NCAA ruled former San Francisco guard Marcus Williams ineligible after finding he shared performance information connected to daily fantasy sports betting.
- The violations stemmed from an investigation into a separate Fresno State case involving alleged manipulation of player performance for prop bets.
- The ruling comes amid increased NCAA enforcement and a renewed ban on athletes betting on professional sports.
According to the negotiated resolution reached with the University of San Francisco, Williams provided performance-related information to Mykell Robinson, then a Fresno State men's basketball player, who placed daily fantasy sports wagers tied to Williams' statistical outcomes. The bets focused on over and under propositions involving points, rebounds, and assists.
The NCAA stated Williams failed to cooperate with the probe, falsely denying holding a daily fantasy sports account, but participated in the resolution and ultimately acknowledged the violations.
While the ruling declares him permanently ineligible, the penalty carries no practical impact on his college career, as his eligibility expired at the conclusion of his senior season.
Williams averaged 15 points per game for San Francisco, helping the team post a 25-10 record and reach the postseason before a second-round loss in the National Invitation Tournament. He later went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft and signed a Summer League contract with the Miami Heat.
The NCAA clarified that Williams wagered only on professional sports.
The case emerged during a broader investigation into Robinson, who was ruled permanently ineligible in September after allegations of intentionally underperforming to influence prop bets. University officials said the Williams matter was classified as a limited and minor infraction under NCAA enforcement guidelines.
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NCAA reverses course on pro sports betting change
The enforcement action involving Williams unfolded shortly after the NCAA formally reinstated a ban on betting on professional sports for athletes and athletic department staff. A proposed rule change that would have allowed college athletes to bet on professional sports was rejected by the NCAA membership in late November amid concerns about compliance and integrity in collegiate athletics.
The reversal came after a number of well-known gambling-related cases involving professional and collegiate basketball. Recent enforcement actions include the revocation of eligibility for six men's basketball players accused of sports betting violations and for a former Temple guard who placed numerous wagers on games involving his own team.
Although the rule allowing pro sports betting was scheduled to take effect Nov. 1, it was adopted by less than 75% of the Division I cabinet, triggering a rarely used 30-day reconsideration window. During that period, more than two-thirds of Division I schools voted to overturn the change, reaching the threshold before the deadline.
The decision also applied to Divisions II and III, which had been preparing to adopt similar allowances.
