Fresno State men’s basketball is currently embroiled in a sports gambling scandal, with reports indicating that two of the three involved athletes allegedly placed bets on games in which they participated. The Bulldogs have removed forward Mykell Robinson from the team and suspended guards Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins due to the allegations of sports betting. Reports indicate that Robinson and Weaver bet on their team to fall short of their projected points and rebounds totals, which constitutes a violation of NCAA regulations. These rules explicitly prohibit student-athletes, coaches, and athletic staff from wagering on games or sharing information with anyone connected to sports betting activities.
The NCAA’s regulations encompass all forms of sports betting, including intercollegiate, professional, and amateur competitions. It has also been reported that Fresno State’s head coach, Vance Walberg, was the first to uncover the alleged gambling activities of his players and subsequently informed the university. Following an initial internal investigation, the NCAA has launched its own inquiry into the matter. Fresno State has stated that Weaver and Collins are “being withheld from competition as the University reviews an eligibility matter.”
Both players are among the Bulldogs’ leading scorers this season, with Weaver averaging 12.5 points per game and Collins contributing nearly 12.0 points per game while leading the team with 4.7 assists per game. Robinson has not been part of the team since January 11. Fresno State Athletics has indicated that they will refrain from further comments on the situation “at this time.”
The Bulldogs are currently struggling, having lost 10 consecutive games and holding a dismal 5-23 record for the season, marking the highest number of losses in a single campaign. With three players sidelined, the team only had seven players available for their recent 72-69 overtime loss to Air Force.
