A PYMNTS Company

NCAA Bans Three Players in Game-Fixing and Betting Scandal

By  |  September 11, 2025
NCAA

The NCAA has handed down lifetime bans to three men’s college basketball players after discovering their involvement in a betting scheme that included wagers on themselves and one another. According to the New York Post, Fresno State’s Mykell Robinson and Jalen Weaver, along with Steven Vasquez of San Jose State, were declared permanently ineligible for participating in what the NCAA labeled as “sports-betting related game manipulation.”

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The investigation revealed that the players exchanged insider details and discussed ways to influence outcomes tied to individual betting lines. Per the New York Post, two of the athletes intentionally altered their performances to benefit specific prop bets during the 2024-25 season. All three were dismissed from their programs and are no longer enrolled at their respective schools.

    Related: Federal Judge Certifies NCAA Tennis Antitrust Lawsuit as Class Action

    The probe began when a sports betting integrity firm flagged unusual activity surrounding Robinson’s prop bets. In January, investigators uncovered text messages between Robinson and Vasquez—who were roommates at Fresno State during the 2023-24 season—about Robinson’s plan to underperform in certain statistical areas during a regular-season game. The two, along with a third party, placed $2,200 worth of wagers on Robinson’s unders, resulting in a $15,950 payout.

    Further scrutiny showed that Robinson also bet on Weaver, then his Fresno State teammate, during a December matchup. Weaver himself placed a $50 wager on his own performance, cashing in $260. According to the report, the two had shared information about their betting lines before the contest. In total, Robinson was found to have placed 13 bets on himself, earning $600 from those wagers.

    Source: The New York Post