NCAA Disqualifies Former Fordham Players Following Betting Scheme Discoveries

(AsiaGameHub) –   The NCAA has declared former Fordham basketball players Elijah Gray and Will Richardson ineligible following an investigation that connected them to a broader college basketball wagering scandal.

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Good to Know

• During the NCAA investigation, Elijah Gray acknowledged violating ethical conduct rules but denied any involvement in manipulating a game.
• Will Richardson declined to cooperate and provided misleading information, the NCAA stated.
• Federal investigators have associated the wider college basketball betting scandal with approximately 40 players and 17 institutions.

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Fordham Betting Case Reaches NCAA Sanctions

The NCAA has issued ineligibility sanctions against Elijah Gray and Will Richardson, two former Fordham men’s basketball players connected to a college basketball betting scheme that is the subject of a federal inquiry.

Both athletes were enrolled at Fordham when the alleged interactions with known gamblers occurred. NCAA investigators questioned them in 2025 after a different investigation revealed that bettors had approached college players regarding game-fixing.

Per the NCAA, two bettors reached out to Gray on Instagram, framing the scheme as a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunity. Gray and Richardson subsequently discussed the Fordham versus Duquesne game on Feb. 23, 2024, with the bettors and a former NBA player. The offered payment was between $10,000 and $15,000.

Fordham emerged victorious in that contest. Gray informed NCAA investigators that he initially agreed to the plan but later chose not to deliberately lose the game. He also stated he never received any funds. Nonetheless, he conceded that providing information to the bettors breached NCAA ethical conduct standards. The NCAA categorized the infraction as a Level I violation.

Richardson provided a conflicting story. He denied participating in discussions with the bettors and claimed he did not speak with Gray about the NCAA interview. The NCAA asserted that evidence contradicted his statements. Investigators determined that Richardson shared information with bettors and compromised the investigation’s integrity.

Gray later transferred to Temple, appearing in 25 games for the 2024-25 season. He then moved to Wisconsin, where he was dismissed last October for “reasons related to events preceding his enrollment.”

Gray has also entered a guilty plea to federal game-fixing charges and is awaiting sentencing. He is among nearly 30 individuals implicated in the federal college basketball betting case. This group includes former NBA player Anthony Blakeney, as well as Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen, who are also named in the NBA betting case involving Jontay Porter and Terry Rozier.

Richardson transferred to Albany but did not play for the team. The program dismissed him in December 2025.

Neither Gray nor Richardson is currently listed on a college team’s roster. Any NCAA institution wishing to reinstate eligibility for either player would be required to submit an appeal.

Kennesaw State Case Also Named

The NCAA also revealed a separate case concerning former Kennesaw State player Simeon Cottle. Investigators stated that Cottle declined to participate in an investigation related to a March 1, 2024, game against Queens.

Federal prosecutors indicted Cottle on charges of wire fraud and bribery. Subsequently, the NCAA alerted Kennesaw State to potential sports betting violations, leading the school to dismiss him from the team.

Since Cottle has no remaining college eligibility, the NCAA cannot levy a playing ban. His attorney informed NCAA enforcement staff on March 16 that Cottle would not take part in the investigation.