Former Fresno State men's basketball players had academic course work written for them and some of their term papers were paid for by money funneled through a Las Vegas agent, according to a published report.

The allegations of academic fraud, reported by the Fresno Bee, were made by the team statistician who said he wrote the papers and the agent who said he made the payments, as well as some former Fresno State players. They allegedly occurred during the Jerry Tarkanian coaching era, the newspaper said, and involve at least three former players and former academic adviser Katie Felten.

Stephen Mintz, a former Fresno State basketball statistician, told The Bee he wrote and delivered 17 pieces of course work in 2000 for three players -- Courtney Alexander, Terrance Roberson and Dennis Nathan -- in violation of the student code of conduct and NCAA regulations. Mintz, 39, said he was paid nearly $1,500 for the work, in payments from Alexander or Felten.

Nate Cebrun, who has been a central figure in two NCAA scandals, told The Bee he funneled at least $1,500 in cash from Las Vegas-based sports agent Robert Walsh to Felten for term papers to be written for Roberson and another Fresno State player in 2000.

Cebrun told The Bee he did not know who was writing the papers, and that he never has heard of Mintz. Mintz said he never has met Cebrun and was not aware Cebrun was involved in delivering money for term papers.

Alexander, who now plays for the New Orleans Hornets, faxed a statement to a Fresno television station in reply to Mintz' charges. The statement read: "I categorically deny that Mr. Mintz ever wrote a paper for me. All he did was type papers for me, for which he was fairly compensated. (Mintz) obviously is trying to make a name for himself at my expense."

Fresno State President John D. Welty issued a statement late Tuesday promising that rumors of alleged fraud would be looked into thoroughly.

"The university is actively reviewing these allegations. Of course, the university considers any allegation of possible academic fraud as a serious charge and is currently conducting a vigorous investigation jointly with the NCAA," Welty said.

Welty said the results of the investigation into the fraud allegations would be made public.

In a Monday interview with radio station KMJ-AM, Felten said she was never part of any academic fraud with Mintz. She denied she wrote any papers or did course work for players, and said Mintz told her he had asked The Bee for money in exchange for his story.

Charlie Waters, executive editor of The Bee, issued a statement saying: "The Fresno Bee has not and will not pay for information from sources. From time to time, sources inquire about being paid, but all have been and will be told, 'No,' unequivocally."

Former player Travis Robinson, Charles Bailey, a team manager during the 2000-01 season, and another former player who agreed to be interviewed by the newspaper on condition of anonymity, said they were aware of players who had course work written for them. Both Robinson and the player who spoke anonymously said in separate interviews that they knew of at least five players who had work done for them.

Both players said no work was done for them.

"If you were on the team, you knew it happened," Robinson, who played six games in 1999 before quitting the team, told The Bee.

When reached by the newspaper, Tarkanian said he did not know whether the school was investigating allegations of academic fraud. He also said he was not aware of any players who had academic course work done by others.

"In 37 years of coaching, I've never had a case of academic fraud," Tarkanian said. "I can't believe what you are saying is accurate. We have always taken academics very seriously."

Violations involving academic fraud would carry one of the stiffest penalties if affirmed by the NCAA, which sanctioned the University of Minnesota after violations by its men's basketball program were uncovered in 1999.

The Minnesota scandal is considered one of the worst academic fraud cases. The program was hit with a four-year probation, lost five scholarships, repaid revenue from NCAA Tournament appearances, removed banners from their arena and missed one postseason (self-imposed).

Fresno State President John Welty told The Bee that the university has been aware of allegations regarding men's basketball players having academic work completed for them. Those allegations have been part of the 2½-year ongoing joint investigation with the NCAA, he said.

Welty told The Bee that not all of the people the university wants to speak with about the allegations have been cooperative. "Not everyone has been willing to talk with us," he said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.