A massive alleged sports betting scheme involving nearly 40 college basketball players from two dozen schools has rocked the NCAA, with several high-profile cases connected to prominent NBA and other athletes. Former NBA player Antonio Blakeney is at the center of a federal indictment that accuses him and others of fixing games for millions of dollars.
According to prosecutors, the scheme involved bribing players to underperform in ways that ensured their teams failed to cover the point spread. This would then lead to substantial bets being placed against those teams by fixers, including Shane Hennen, who is known as "Sugar Shane." The alleged bribe payments ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game and were intended to significantly supplement or exceed players' name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities.
The scheme allegedly involved recruiting dozens of players, coaches, and trainers who were well-connected in the world of college basketball. These individuals were targeted for their influence, which added gravitas and legitimacy to the scheme.
One notable case involves La Salle University, where Blakeney and his co-conspirators allegedly offered players bribes to underperform in a game against St. Bonaventure University. The fixers placed substantial bets on St. Bonaventure to cover the spread, totaling $247,000, but the team ultimately failed.
The alleged conspiracy "mushroomed" into an international scheme after Hennen and another defendant recruited Blakeney to play poorly in games for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jiangsu Dragons. In China, Blakeney averaged over 32 points per game during the 2022-23 season, but ahead of a game, nearly $200,000 was wagered on the opponent covering an 11.5 point spread.
The defendants face charges including bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The investigation highlights the growing concern about sports betting integrity in college athletics and the multibillion-dollar sports betting industry as a whole.
According to prosecutors, the scheme involved bribing players to underperform in ways that ensured their teams failed to cover the point spread. This would then lead to substantial bets being placed against those teams by fixers, including Shane Hennen, who is known as "Sugar Shane." The alleged bribe payments ranged from $10,000 to $30,000 per game and were intended to significantly supplement or exceed players' name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities.
The scheme allegedly involved recruiting dozens of players, coaches, and trainers who were well-connected in the world of college basketball. These individuals were targeted for their influence, which added gravitas and legitimacy to the scheme.
One notable case involves La Salle University, where Blakeney and his co-conspirators allegedly offered players bribes to underperform in a game against St. Bonaventure University. The fixers placed substantial bets on St. Bonaventure to cover the spread, totaling $247,000, but the team ultimately failed.
The alleged conspiracy "mushroomed" into an international scheme after Hennen and another defendant recruited Blakeney to play poorly in games for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jiangsu Dragons. In China, Blakeney averaged over 32 points per game during the 2022-23 season, but ahead of a game, nearly $200,000 was wagered on the opponent covering an 11.5 point spread.
The defendants face charges including bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The investigation highlights the growing concern about sports betting integrity in college athletics and the multibillion-dollar sports betting industry as a whole.
I feel like some of them are already struggling with their own identity and pressure to perform, and then you throw in all this extra stuff? 
It's just not right. And what really gets me is that the fixers were using these players' influence for their own gain... it's just so unfair.
It's like, where does integrity even come into play anymore? I just hope that those involved get what's coming to them, because if anyone gets punished, it should be the ones who took advantage of these kids.
The idea of " NIL opportunities" has to be so tempting to some of these kids, but it's just not worth sacrificing your integrity or values. I hope more parents and authorities are paying attention to this stuff, because it needs to change. 
This whole thing is wild, right? Like I knew there was some shady stuff going on in college hoops, but 40+ players involved? That's insane 
. And it's not just the players, either... coaches and trainers were all in on it too, apparently. This whole thing is like a real-life sports betting thriller 
. Can't say I'm surprised, though - college athletics has always had some shady characters lurking around...
... and the fact that coaches and trainers were in on it too, it's just disgusting 
. i feel bad for all those innocent people who got caught up in this scheme. gotta wonder what kinda pressure was put on these players to do some shady stuff 
. And what's with all the drama about players taking money under the table? In my opinion, it's not that hard to just take a little extra cash and not get caught 
. I'm pretty sure most of these guys are innocent until proven guilty... or maybe they're just really good at playing dumb 
. And let's be real, sports betting is basically the same as putting money on a game anyway – it's all about risk management and having fun 
.
. The whole thing is just a mess.
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