Key Takeaways:
- 20 people have been indicted in a widespread point-shaving scheme involving college basketball and professional games in China.
- Former Chicago Bulls player Antonio Blakeney is accused of accepting $200,000 to underperform in games and later recruiting college players.
- The operation allegedly involved 39 players on more than 17 Division I teams, with millions wagered on at least 29 games.
- The indictment includes charges of bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy, with maximum sentences of up to 20 years for fraud and five years for bribery.
- The NCAA has responded to the allegations, stating that they will continue to work with law enforcement to preserve the legitimacy of college sports competition.
Introduction to the Scandal
The sports world has been rocked by another major scandal, as federal prosecutors have secured indictments against 20 people accused of fixing college basketball games, as well as professional games in China. According to court documents obtained by USA TODAY Sports, sports gamblers worked with players who agreed to underperform in games from 2022 to 2025 in a widespread point-shaving scheme. The charges, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, include bribery, wire fraud, and conspiracy, with maximum sentences of up to 20 years for fraud and five years for bribery.
The Alleged Scheme
The alleged sports gambling conspiracy began in September 2022 when several of the defendants first started to bribe players in the Chinese Basketball Association. One player named but not charged in the indictment is Antonio Blakeney, a former member of the Chicago Bulls, who later played for the Jiangsu Dragons in China. Blakeney was the first player recruited, according to prosecutors, and after several successful outcomes in China, he went on to "recruit NCAA players who would accept bribe payments," court papers said. Blakeney was charged separately in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in an indictment dated Oct. 17, 2024.
The Extent of the Scandal
The operation eventually involved 39 players on more than 17 Division I teams from 2022-2025, with bettors wagering millions of dollars on at least 29 different games, according to the indictment, with payments ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game. Of the 20 people named in the indictment, 15 are active college or former college basketball players. The indictment unsealed Thursday revealed a scheme similar to the one announced in October in which Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was one of 30 people indicted in a wide-ranging gambling probe allegedly involving members of New York’s organized crime families.
The NCAA’s Response
The NCAA has responded to the allegations, stating that they will continue to work with law enforcement to preserve the legitimacy of college sports competition. NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement that the NCAA continues to work with law enforcement to preserve the legitimacy of college sports competition. "The Association has and will continue to aggressively pursue sports betting violations in college athletics using a layered integrity monitoring program that covers over 22,000 contests," Baker said, "but we still need the remaining states, regulators and gaming companies to eliminate threats to integrity – such as collegiate prop bets – to better protect athletes and leagues from integrity risks and predatory bettors."
The Individuals Involved
One of the players named in the indictment is current Kennesaw State guard Simeon Cottle, who played Wednesday night and scored 21 points in the Owls’ 89-86 win over FIU. Other active college players in the indictment are Eastern Michigan’s Carlos Hart, Delaware State’s Camian Shell, and Texas Southern’s Oumar Koureissi. The indictment also names high-stakes sports bettor Shane Hennen, who had already been charged alongside Rozier and was also accused of participating in that scandal. Antonio Blakeney, a 6-4 shooting guard, played his college ball at LSU and later played for the Chicago Bulls and the Jiangsu Dragons in China.
Conclusion
The latest scandal to rock the sports world is a reminder of the ongoing threat of corruption and cheating in college athletics. The indictment of 20 people in a widespread point-shaving scheme is a significant development, and the NCAA’s response is a step in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to prevent such scandals from occurring in the future. The sports world will be watching closely as this case unfolds, and it is likely that there will be more revelations and consequences to come.