BOSTON (Diya TV) — Twenty men were charged Wednesday in a massive point-shaving scheme that involved 39 college basketball players and at least 17 NCAA teams. Federal authorities said the scheme also touched games in the Chinese Basketball Association. According to the indictment unsealed Jan. 15, the group bribed players to manipulate scores to benefit bettors. Players were reportedly paid between $10,000 and $30,000 per game. More than 29 games were affected in both college basketball and the CBA, authorities said.
Former Chicago Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney was named in the indictment but was “charged elsewhere,” according to ESPN. Two college players, New Orleans’ Cedquavious Hunter and Dyquavion Short, were already sanctioned by the NCAA in November for involvement in game-fixing.
Several active players were listed in the indictment, including Kennesaw State’s Simeon Cottle, Eastern Michigan’s Carlos Hart, Delaware State’s Camian Shell, and Texas Southern’s Oumar Koureissi. Cottle is averaging over 20 points per game this season. The allegations span teams outside the Power Four conferences. Authorities said the scheme initially started in the Chinese Basketball Association and later moved to U.S. college basketball.
The indictment listed the following schools: Abilene Christian, Alabama State, Buffalo, Coppin State, DePaul, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Kennesaw State, La Salle, New Orleans, Nicholls State, North Carolina A&T, Northwestern State, Robert Morris, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, and Tulane. None of the schools are in Power Four conferences, which include the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12.
NCAA President Charlie Baker said the findings were “not entirely new information” to the organization. Baker highlighted ongoing investigations into almost all teams mentioned in the indictment.
He also called for the elimination of prop bets for college athletes. “This step will help protect athletes and leagues from integrity risks and predatory bettors,” Baker said. The NCAA said it has opened betting investigations into roughly 40 players from 20 different schools.
