Man who helped recruit players into a sprawling NCAA basketball point-shaving scheme pleads guilty

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 3 min read 100% complete by By MARC LEVYMarch 9, 2026 at 07:23 PM

AI Summary

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Jalen Smith pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bribery in a Philadelphia federal court for his role in a widespread NCAA basketball point-shaving scheme. Smith, one of 26 individuals charged, recruited college basketball players to intentionally underperform in games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons in exchange for payment. He and other "fixers" then bet against those teams, defrauding sportsbooks and bettors. The scheme, which began with games in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2023, expanded to involve over 39 players on more than 17 NCAA Division I teams, impacting at least 29 games. The participants wagered millions of dollars and profited substantially from the rigged outcomes.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Charlotte 40% North Carolina 40% Louisiana 40% Chinese Basketball Association 50% Philadelphia ×260% NCAA ×480% Jalen Smith ×690%

Keywords

point-shaving scheme 95% ncaa basketball 90% game fixing 80% bribery 70% wire fraud 70% sports betting 70% college basketball 60% illegal betting 60% federal court 50%