NCAA Rules Three Basketball Players Permanently Ineligible For Point Shaving
Mike Goodpaster Published 04/05/2026
Three college basketball players have been ruled permanently ineligible due to the roles they played in separate point-shaving scandals. Elijah Gray and Will Richardson of the Fordham men's basketball team, and Simeon Cottle of the Kennesaw State men's basketball team, were the three players deemed to be permanently ineligible.
All three players agreed to a negotiated settlement with the NCAA. Gray and Richardson were ruled ineligible due to their connections to an ongoing federal sports betting probe. Part of a different points-shaving case, Cottle is among 26 people facing federal indictments on counts including bribery in sporting contests and wire fraud.
The Fordham players were fixing a 2024 game against Duquesne
The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions launched an investigation into a February 23, 2024, game between Fordham and Duquesne. The investigation found that Gray and Richardson had agreed with a bettor to throw that game. Gray was to receive a $10,000 payment for his role in the scheme, while Richardson was to be receiving $15,000.
NCAA officials notified regulators at the Mississippi Gaming Commission of suspicious betting activity on this game. There was a $10,000 bet placed on Duquesne to win the game.
The NCAA noted that while Gray cooperated with investigators, Richardson did not. Richardson, who continues to deny his involvement in the betting scandal, is accused of providing false information to investigators.
The NCAA investigation found that both players had agreed to lose or attempt to lose by more points than the betting spread set by sports book operators in a conspiracy with outside bettors for pecuniary gain. Both players violated the principles of NCAA honesty and sportsmanship.
According to the NCAA, Gray told investigators that, while he had conspired to underperform during the game, he ultimately reneged on the agreement. He claimed that he played with his usual effort and was not paid by the bettor. Fordham wound up beating Duquesne 79-67. Even though he didn't follow through on his role in the scheme, Gray did agree with investigators that he violated ethical conduct rules by providing information to a known bettor.
Gray was among 26 people accused by federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania of conspiring to fix games. He has pleaded guilty in that case. His sentencing is scheduled for July.
Cottle is refusing to cooperate with NCAA investigators
Cottle is also among the 26 people facing indictment by the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for wire fraud and bribery. The charges concern Kennesaw State's game versus Queens (New York) on March 1, 2024.
Cottle has steadfastly refused to cooperate with investigators. "The enforcement staff made numerous requests to interview Cottle through his legal counsel," the NCAA noted in a statement. "On March 16, Cottle's attorney told the enforcement staff that his client would not participate in the processing of the case.
"Failure to cooperate in an NCAA investigation — including refusing to be interviewed or produce relevant materials — violates NCAA rules. The student-athlete's failure to cooperate is a Level I violation."
Even though he's no longer holding NCAA eligibility, the NCAA was nonetheless declaring Cottle permanently ineligible by the NCAA.
A key figure in this NCAA point-shaving scandal may accept a plea
ESPN is reporting that one of the alleged fixers in this NCAA point-shaving scandal will be entering a guilty plea in the case.
According to court documents obtained by ESPN, Mississippi sports bettor Marves Fairley will enter a guilty plea in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to being one of the fixers in this point-shaving case.
Fairley is also facing indictment in New York. That's for a separate case involving the use of nonpublic information to win bets on NBA games. Expectations are that he will also be pleading guilty in that case.
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