Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania have charged over a dozen former college basketball players with point-shaving offenses, marking what could be the most significant NCAA gambling scandal in 75 years. A grand jury in Philadelphia has unsealed a detailed indictment against 20 Division I players, many active in the past three seasons, who participated in a scheme impacting more than 17 NCAA Division I teams and nearly 30 men's basketball games.
Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley, two alleged fixers, are already facing separate charges related to a well-known match manipulation scheme linked to the NBA. Additionally, former Chicago Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with accusations that he assisted in rigging games in the Chinese Basketball Association.
US Attorney David Metcalf described the extensive operation as an "international criminal conspiracy," emphasizing the substantial threat it poses to the integrity of sports. According to Metcalf, the ringleaders placed millions of dollars in bets tied to fixed games, with players allegedly compensated to underperform and not cover point spreads.
Metcalf announced the indictments alongside FBI Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey, who highlighted the agency's commitment to safeguarding the American public and the institutions they trust, declaring, "To those who choose corruption and betrayal: we will find you, we will investigate you, and we will hold you accountable."
During their press conference near LaSalle University, no specific players from the institution were cited as being involved; however, a February 2024 game against St. Bonaventure was flagged for suspicious activity. This game is one of 29 mentioned in the 70-page indictment, which starts with a matchup between McNeese State and Nicholls State in February 2024 and concludes with a game on January 11, 2025, where the University of New Orleans lost to Southeastern Louisiana.
The indictment also claims four games from New Orleans were pivotal, including a loss to Lamar during the 2024 Southland Conference tournament. Three former players from that school—Cedquavious Hunter, Dyquavion Short, and Carlos Hart—face charges for their roles in the scheme. The NCAA had previously declared both Hunter and Short permanently ineligible after its own investigation found their involvement in match-fixing.
In addition to players from New Orleans, the document names former players from Tulane, Nicholls State, Southern Mississippi, and Alabama State in the Gulf Coast region, as well as players from Buffalo, Robert Morris, and Fordham in the Northeast. Da'Sean Nelson, a former DePaul forward, is accused of fixing a game in 2024 after transferring to Eastern Michigan, with Jalen Terry, also implicated, allegedly rigging games while part of both teams.
Hennen faces separate illegal sports betting and rigged poker charges in Brooklyn. Residing in Las Vegas, Hennen lived in Philadelphia between 2021 and 2023, according to reports.
From September 2022, authorities noted that individuals collaborated to recruit and bribe players to manipulate Chinese Basketball Association games. Prosecutors claim Fairley and Hennen offered bribes to Blakeney while he played in China to influence game outcomes. Blakeney, who once played for LSU, had a brief tenure with the Chicago Bulls and led the CBA in scoring during the 2022-23 season.
In a March 6, 2023 game against the Guangdong Southern Tigers, Blakeney scored just 11 points, allowing the Tigers to win and cover an 11.5-point spread. Hennen, Fairley, and others reportedly placed large wagers in this context, including significant bets at BetRivers Sportsbook in Philadelphia. Additionally, Blakeney allegedly recruited a teammate to the scheme.
Afterward, Blakeney is accused of using his connections to lure Division I players into rigging NCAA contests, helping to enlist Nicholls State players Oumar Koureissi and Diante Smith, along with former Tulane forward Kevin Cross. On February 18, 2024, East Carolina covered the spread against Tulane, and another defendant, Roderick Winkler, supposedly delivered $30,000 to Cross for his involvement.
Players who participated in the schemes reportedly received between $10,000 and $30,000 for their cooperation. Simeon Cottle, a Kennesaw State guard, has been charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, having performed well in the season as the Conference USA Player of the Year with an average of 20.2 points per game.
NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized the importance of protecting competition integrity, particularly as the indictments follow his recent call for a ban on prediction market trading in collegiate sports. Notably, former Temple guard Hysier Miller is not part of the current indictments, even though the NCAA declared him permanently ineligible for placing numerous impermissible bets on Temple basketball in November.
Previous significant point-shaving incidents, such as the infamous 1951 case involving multiple New York City schools, saw 35 players admitting to accepting bribes. This year's case prompted Metcalf to label the indictments as "historic" in nature, warning that the stakes extend well beyond mere betting.
"It’s another blow to public confidence in the integrity of sport, which rests on the fundamental principles of fairness, honesty and respect for the rules of competition," he said.
