Fix Scandal Hits Tulane--4 Accused

NEW ORLEANS —  A star member of the Tulane University basketball team and another Tulane student were under arrest Tuesday night, accused of fixing at least two Tulane basketball games this season. Warrants were issued for two other Tulane basketball players, authorities said.

Orleans Parish District Atty. Harry Connick said at a news conference Tuesday night that John (Hot Rod) Williams, 24, a senior from Sorrento, La., and the other arrested student, Gary Kranz, 21, of New York, as well as sophomore guard David Dominique, 19, of New Iberia, La., and senior guard Bobby Thompson, 22, of New Orleans, will be booked for violating of Louisiana sports bribery laws.

The whereabouts of Dominique and Thompson were not known late Tuesday, authorities said.

Williams, a senior and All-Metro Conference player, was in custody in New Orleans night after being transported from his hometown.

“I have nothing to do with this--I have too much at stake,” said Williams as he arrived at the district attorney’s office Tuesday night. Williams averaged 18 points and 7.9 rebounds a game this season for the Green Wave .

He was considered the star of the Tulane team and has been a standout in the Metro Conference since he was named conference Freshman of the Year. The 6-10 senior center was Metro Conference player of the year for the 1983-1984 season.

According to several National Basketball Assn. scouts, Williams was considered to be a certain first-round draft choice.

Tulane finished the 1984-85 season a disappointing 15-13, with a 6-8 mark in the conference. Cincinnati eliminated Tulane in the first round of the Metro Conference tournament.

The games involved in the alleged scheme were against Southern Mississippi on Feb. 2 and Memphis State on Feb. 20, Connick said. Both games were played at Tulane. Williams scored 14 points in the 60-49 loss to Memphis State, a game in which Tulane was a four-point underdog. He was 5 for 12 from the field and made 4 of 6 free throws.

In the Southern Mississippi game, won by Tulane, 64-63, Williams played erratically in the first half, making just one of eight shots. He wound up with 15 points. Tulane was a 10 1/2-point favorite to defeat Southern Mississippi.

Kranz was under arrest in connection with the point-fixing scheme. In addition, Kranz will be booked with multiple violations of the controlled dangerous-substance laws relative to possession of cocaine and distribution of cocaine, Connick said.

The last point-shaving scheme involved some Boston College games during the 1978-1979 season, with a member of the team, Rick Kuhn, among those convicted of conspiracy to commit sports bribery. Kuhn was jailed.