The NCAA offered an inside look this week at the point-shaving scandal uncovered in January involving several college basketball programs.
The association announced that former Fordham men’s basketball players Elijah Gray and Will Richardson are permanently ineligible because of violations involving potential game manipulation for sports betting. According to the NCAA, bettors offered to pay both players to lose a game.
When interviewed by enforcement staff, Gray said he exchanged messages with one of the known bettors. Additionally, he and Richardson participated in a call with a bettor and a former NBA player involved in the scheme.
Both players agreed to lose the game against Duquesne on Feb. 23, 2024. In exchange for the loss, the bettors agreed to pay Gray and Richardson between $10,000 and $15,000 each.
However, Gray said he reconsidered his involvement in rigging the game. He told NCAA officials he actually played his normal game and Fordham won.
“The bettor contacted Gray after the game to express disappointment, and Gray stated that he did not respond to the message or continue to communicate with him,” NCAA officials reported. “Gray also did not receive any payment from the bettor. He said that Richardson, however, continued to communicate with the former NBA player and showed Gray screenshots of their messages, though Gray did not recall the contents of those messages.”
Gray later agreed to his violations of NCAA rules. However, he is adamant he didn’t manipulate a game’s outcome.
Sports Bettor Acted As NIL Agent
The events surrounding the point-shaving scandal came to light after an NCAA investigation in September 2025. Consequently, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania indicted a person with ties to two known bettors. They charged him with counts of wire fraud and bribery related to sports betting.
That person outlined a scheme involving college basketball players. One of the bettors remained in contact with players under the auspices that he was an agent for name, image, and likeness.
Fordham was mentioned as one of the teams with players receiving payments for point shaving. The Mississippi Gaming Commission later reported a $10,000 bet on the Rams to lose a game in February 2024. NCAA enforcement staff reviewed the Fordham roster and identified three players connected to the bettor on social media, including Gray and Richardson.
In an interview with the NCAA, Richardson said Gray told him someone had offered to pay him if Fordham lost the game. He denied being part of calls with Gray and the bettor. Another Fordham player said he had overheard Gray, Richardson, and another player discussing throwing a game for money.
In an October 2025 interview, however, Richardson denied participating in the scheme and denied communicating with the bettor and former NBA player. NCAA officials allege Richardson contacted other players about his interview, failing to preserve the integrity of the investigation. He also later declined to participate further in the investigation.
“Failure to cooperate in an NCAA investigation – including knowingly providing false information during an interview – violates NCAA rules,” the association noted.
Some Involved Plead Guilty
Gray has since pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the scheme and is awaiting sentencing, according to ESPN. The network also reported that Antonio Blakeney is the former NBA player involved in the scheme and he also faces federal charges.
Marves Fairley was implicated as one of the alleged bettors involved in the operation and plans to plead guilty to the charges, according to ESPN. When the original federal investigation was revealed, prosecutors claimed that more than 39 players from at least 17 Division I schools were involved.
Prosecutors say the athletes “fixed and attempted to fix” over 29 games. Federal officials first revealed the beginning of the investigation in September and that grew in scope in the following months.
The indictments followed several recent sports betting scandals. Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were arrested and indicted in November for allegedly rigging pitches. In October, the FBI arrested and charged Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier and several others for allegedly fixing games and statistics.
