NCAA bans three players for gambling as wider college basketball probe expands | Yogonet International
Summary
The NCAA has issued permanent bans to three men’s college basketball players — Mykell Robinson (former Fresno State guard), Steven Vasquez (former San Jose State forward) and Jalen Weaver (former Fresno State guard) — after finding they placed wagers on their own games, shared inside information and, in two cases, deliberately altered on-court performance to influence betting outcomes. All three have been released from their teams and are no longer enrolled at their schools.
Investigators traced suspicious wagers through integrity monitors and sportsbooks. Text messages showed Robinson and Vasquez coordinated to exploit prop bets; the three involved placed roughly $2,200 in bets that returned $15,950. Robinson also made multiple daily fantasy sports bets on his own performance. Robinson and Vasquez refused to cooperate with investigators; Weaver admitted his violation.
Key Points
- Three former players (Robinson, Vasquez, Weaver) received permanent NCAA bans for betting on games, sharing insider info and manipulating performance.
- Suspicious wagering was flagged by Fresno State and betting integrity monitors; investigators recovered text messages showing deliberate underperformance plans and coordinated bets.
- The trio placed about $2,200 in bets that returned $15,950; Robinson placed 13 daily fantasy bets on himself and hit parlays (one paid $618).
- Weaver cooperated and admitted the violation; Robinson and Vasquez did not cooperate with the NCAA investigation.
- The probe has expanded: 13 other players from six schools (Eastern Michigan, Temple, Arizona State, New Orleans, North Carolina A&T, Mississippi Valley State) are now under investigation.
- The widening inquiry is tied to suspicious sportsbook activity and a federal probe in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania linked to an NBA betting scandal involving Jontay Porter.
- NCAA president Charlie Baker warned that legalised betting increases integrity risks and urged regulators and operators to reduce exposure — for example by limiting prop bets.
- No institutions or coaching staffs are accused; the NCAA said there will be no institutional penalties at this stage.
Content summary
The piece reports the NCAA’s enforcement outcome against three ex-players and explains how wagering patterns and communications pointed to coordinated betting and intentional performance manipulation. It places the bans in the context of a broader, multi-school investigation driven by alerts from sportsbooks and integrity monitors over two seasons, and notes connections to a federal gambling ring investigation. The article includes concrete figures on bets and winnings and highlights the NCAA’s stance that institutions are not implicated.
Context and relevance
This story matters because it illustrates the practical integrity challenges college sport faces as sports betting becomes more mainstream. The expansion of the probe across several schools and the tie to a federal investigation show the issue is systemic, not isolated. For regulators, operators, colleges and fans, the case underlines why monitoring, education and clearer betting rules for student-athletes are becoming urgent priorities.
Why should I read this?
Short version: if you care about sports integrity, college basketball or the gambling industry, this is a tidy snapshot of how bets, texts and prop markets can wreck careers and trigger big investigations. We’ve cut the main facts out for you — who’s banned, why, the money involved and how it links to a wider federal probe.
Source
Article meta
Article date: 2025-09-12T03:51:54+00:00
Image: 