Federal Charges Filed in Widespread NCAA Basketball Point-Shaving Scandal
A major college basketball scandal has rocked the NCAA, as twenty individuals now face federal charges in connection with a point-shaving scheme that spanned two seasons and involved at least 17 Division I programs. According to the indictment, more than 29 games were manipulated, with over 39 players implicated in a conspiracy that reached deep into the heart of college hoops.
This isn’t just a story about a few bad actors-it’s a sprawling web of alleged corruption, with players, fixers, and gambling ties all intersecting in a way that threatens the integrity of the college game.
Who’s Involved?
Fifteen of the individuals charged played NCAA basketball during the 2023-24 and/or 2024-25 seasons. Among the most prominent names are Cedquavious Hunter and Dyquavian Short, who were already sanctioned by the NCAA back in November for their roles in fixing games for New Orleans. That earlier disciplinary action now appears to have been just the tip of the iceberg.
Four players currently active on NCAA rosters-Simeon Cottle, Carlos Hart, Camian Shell, and Oumar Koureissi-have also been charged. Notably, all four have played for their current teams in the past week.
However, the allegations tied to Hart, Shell, and Koureissi stem from their time at previous programs. Cottle’s alleged involvement dates back to the 2023-24 season.
The remaining five defendants were described by federal authorities as “fixers”-the go-betweens who allegedly coordinated with players and bettors to manipulate game outcomes for profit. Two of them, Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley, are already facing charges in a separate federal case related to NBA gambling schemes in New York.
The Scope of the Scheme
What sets this case apart is the scale. This wasn’t an isolated incident or a single rogue program. The indictment lists 17 different Division I schools whose games were allegedly impacted:
- 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
- Tulane
That’s a wide geographic and competitive spread, from mid-majors to programs with deeper basketball traditions. The fact that over two dozen games were allegedly manipulated raises serious questions about how widespread the gambling influence may have become in college sports-and how difficult it is to detect in real time.
What’s Next?
While the legal process will play out in federal court, the implications for the NCAA and its member institutions are immediate and far-reaching. Compliance departments will be on high alert.
Athletic directors and coaches will be reviewing internal protocols. And fans, who invest their time, money, and passion into the college game, are left wondering how many of the moments they celebrated-or agonized over-were actually part of something far more sinister.
This scandal is a reminder that as sports betting becomes more accessible and more integrated into the fabric of American sports culture, the risks aren’t just theoretical. For the NCAA, this is a wake-up call.
For the players involved, it could be career-defining. And for the game itself, it’s a moment of reckoning.