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A sweeping federal case reveals how college players and overseas pros allegedly took cash to rig games for bettors.
Scheme Spanned Two Continents, Dozens of Players
Federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania have charged six more people in a multi-year point-shaving scandal that allegedly stretched from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) into Division I NCAA programs. The group is accused of paying players to underperform so bets placed through legal sportsbooks would hit — part of a scheme involving at least 39 players from 17 colleges across two basketball seasons.
The fix reportedly began during the 2022–23 CBA season, where players were paid to miss shots, limit production, or otherwise manipulate scoring margins. Prosecutors say those behind the operation later turned their focus to U.S. college basketball, especially lower-profile matchups, where bets on first-half lines could quietly yield big returns.
Ex-NBA Guard Named in Allegations
One of the more high-profile figures named is former Chicago Bulls guard Antonio Blakeney, who allegedly underperformed in a CBA game after bets totaling $198,000 were placed against his team. He’s also accused of recruiting a teammate for $20,000 to help rig another game — one in which he didn’t even play.
From there, the fixers allegedly set their sights on NCAA contests during the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons. Using FaceTime and cash-filled pitches, they approached players at several schools to shave points in exchange for bribes ranging between $10,000 and $30,000.
Suspensions Hit as Schools Respond
According to the indictment, schools impacted include DePaul, Georgetown, Tulane, Nicholls State, Buffalo, St. Louis, and Kennesaw State. Four players named — Simeon Cottle, Carlos Hart, Oumar Koureissi, and Camian Shell — have appeared in games as recently as last week. Hart and Cottle have since been suspended by their respective programs, while Koureissi has been removed from his team.
Cottle, who was averaging 20.2 points per game for Kennesaw State and had been named Conference USA’s preseason player of the year, allegedly went scoreless in the first half of a March 2024 game after he and a teammate were paid $40,000.
Wire Fraud and Bribery Charges Could Bring Heavy Time
The charges include bribery in sports contests and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If convicted, some defendants face up to 20 years in prison. Among the five individuals prosecutors say acted as fixers are Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley — the latter also linked to a separate federal case involving NBA gambling.
The Department of Justice argues that sportsbooks and bettors were defrauded since the games were manipulated behind the scenes.
NCAA Says Investigations Are Ongoing
NCAA President Charlie Baker acknowledged the case overlaps with several investigations already in progress. “Protecting competition integrity is of the utmost importance,” he said in a statement, adding that the NCAA had already opened probes into most of the teams listed in the indictment.
Prosecutors allege the fixers strategically went after players whose payout offers could outmatch NIL deals, and whose performance — or lack of it — could fly under the radar in low-profile games.
Why This Matters to Bettors
For everyday sports bettors, this case adds to the growing concern about game integrity in the legalized betting era. While most of the focus has been on pro leagues, this operation shows just how vulnerable mid-major college programs are to manipulation — especially when players are approached with sums of money they’d never see from a typical endorsement deal.
