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NCAA Uncovers Betting Scheme Involving Basketball Players at Fresno State and San Jose State
Three college basketball players have been permanently banned from NCAA competition after an investigation revealed they placed bets on their own games and manipulated their performances to ensure certain wagers would win. The NCAA Committee on Infractions announced the findings following an extensive investigation into the gambling activities of Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver during the 2024-25 regular season.
The investigation began after Fresno State and a sports betting integrity monitor alerted NCAA officials about suspicious prop bets placed on Robinson. Further examination revealed a coordinated effort among the three student-athletes to share information about individual betting lines for the purpose of manipulating game outcomes to win proposition bets.
Robinson and Vasquez, former roommates at Fresno State during the 2023-24 season, were at the center of the scheme. In January 2025, text messages revealed that Robinson, then playing for Fresno State, planned to deliberately underperform in several statistical categories during an upcoming game. Robinson, Vasquez (who had transferred to San Jose State), and an unidentified third party collectively wagered $2,200 on Robinson’s under-line performance in those categories.
The deliberate underperformance resulted in a $15,950 payout that was distributed among those involved in the betting scheme. During that same season, Robinson also placed 13 daily fantasy sports prop bets totaling $454 on parlays that included his own performance, collecting $618 on one successful wager.
The coordination extended beyond just Robinson and Vasquez. The investigation uncovered that Robinson placed multiple bets on his Fresno State teammate Jalen Weaver, including two wagers before a late December 2024 game after exchanging information about their respective betting lines. As a result of that coordination, Weaver placed a $50 prop bet on a parlay involving himself, Robinson, and a third student-athlete, winning $260.
The case represents one of the most serious breaches of NCAA gambling rules in recent years, coming at a time when sports betting has become increasingly accessible across the United States following the Supreme Court’s 2018 decision striking down the federal ban on sports wagering.
NCAA rules strictly prohibit student-athletes from betting on any sport the NCAA sponsors at any level, with particularly severe consequences for betting on one’s own games or deliberately affecting performance for gambling purposes. The NCAA has intensified its monitoring of sports betting activity in partnership with integrity monitoring services as legalized sports gambling has expanded nationwide.
All three players have since been released from their respective teams and are no longer enrolled at their former schools. Robinson and Vasquez compounded their violations by failing to cooperate with the NCAA’s investigation.
The cases were resolved through a negotiated resolution process in coordination with the schools, following infractions process operating procedures. While Robinson and Vasquez declined to participate in the processing of their cases, Weaver cooperated and acknowledged his violations.
Under guidelines established by Division I members in 2023, student-athletes found to have bet on their own games face a permanent loss of eligibility as a starting point. Reinstatement would require assistance from an NCAA school, but given the severity of the violations — particularly the manipulation of performance to win bets — reinstatement appears unlikely.
The Committee on Infractions panel that reviewed this case included Jason Leonard, executive director of athletics compliance at Oklahoma; Kay Norton, president emerita at Northern Colorado; and Roderick Perry, former athletics director at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
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18 Comments
This is a concerning development, but the NCAA had to respond swiftly and decisively. Game manipulation and betting violations strike at the heart of fair competition in college sports. The punishments seem appropriate to deter future incidents.
I concur. The NCAA has to take a hard stance on this kind of behavior to uphold the credibility of their programs. Permanent bans are a necessary measure to protect the integrity of college athletics.
This is an unfortunate situation, but the NCAA had to take decisive action. Game manipulation and betting violations go against the core values of college athletics. Permanent bans are justified to uphold the integrity of the game.
I agree. The NCAA has to send a strong message that this conduct is unacceptable. Preserving the fairness and reputation of their competitions should be the top priority.
It’s unfortunate to see these players make such poor choices, but the NCAA had to take firm action. Betting schemes and game manipulation undermine the entire premise of college sports. The punishments are justified to preserve the fairness and reputation of NCAA competitions.
Absolutely. The NCAA has an obligation to crack down on this kind of misconduct to maintain public trust in their programs. Permanent bans send a clear message that this behavior is unacceptable.
This is a disappointing development, but the NCAA had to send a clear message. Game manipulation and betting violations have no place in college athletics. The punishments seem warranted given the severity of the infractions.
Agreed. The NCAA has a responsibility to protect the competitive fairness and ethical standards of their programs. Permanent bans are justified in this case to deter future misconduct.
This is a serious violation of NCAA rules. Game manipulation and betting schemes undermine the integrity of college sports. The NCAA has no choice but to take strong disciplinary action against these players to deter future incidents.
Agreed. The NCAA needs to send a clear message that this kind of behavior is unacceptable. Protecting the fairness and reputation of college athletics is paramount.
While it’s disappointing to see these players lose their NCAA eligibility, the NCAA had no choice but to take firm action. Betting schemes and game manipulation have no place in college sports. The punishment seems warranted given the severity of the infractions.
Agreed. The NCAA has to maintain high ethical standards to protect the integrity of their competitions. Permanent bans are justified in cases of egregious misconduct like this.
Betting schemes and game manipulation are completely antithetical to the core values of college sports. The NCAA had no choice but to come down hard on these players to preserve the integrity of the game.
I’m glad the NCAA took swift action here. Allowing this kind of behavior to go unpunished would set a dangerous precedent and undermine public trust in the entire NCAA system.
Sad to see these players throw away their college careers over a betting scheme. The NCAA had no choice but to come down hard and ban them for life. Integrity in college sports has to be the top priority.
Absolutely. The NCAA can’t afford to let this kind of behavior slide. Permanent ineligibility is the right call to preserve the credibility of their competitions.
It’s disappointing to see college players abusing their positions of trust for personal financial gain. This kind of behavior erodes public confidence in the NCAA and the student-athlete experience.
Absolutely. The NCAA has to uphold high ethical standards to maintain the credibility of their competitions. Permanent bans are warranted in egregious cases like this.