NCAA bans Fresno State’s Mykell Robinson and Jalen Weaver, San Jose State’s Steven Vasquez for betting

Following an investigation into possible violations of the NCAA's sports gambling regulations, the NCAA stated that three basketball players from Fresno State and San Jose State, Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver, had their eligibility permanently revoked. Weaver informed ESPN that he was fired from the team and intended to use the transfer portal, while Robinson was taken off the roster following his final game on January 11.As part of a gambling probe, the NCAA announced on Wednesday that three basketball players who played for Fresno State or San Jose State will be permanently banned. The association further declared Mykell Robinson, Steven Vasquez, and Jalen Weaver permanently ineligible. After the investigation, all three players were cut from their teams and are no longer enrolled at their respective colleges.According to the investigation, Robinson and Vasquez allegedly wagered on Robinson's stat lines in a January 2025 game where he intended to perform poorly. Additionally, in a December 2024 game, Fresno State teammates Robinson and Weaver both won a prop bet on Weaver's play.The NCAA ruled that "the student-athletes bet on their own games, one another's games and/or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season." Evidence of two of those players manipulating their own performances to guarantee the winning of certain wagers was discovered by the NCAA.The report also read:“Robinson, Vasquez and a third party bet a combined $2,200 on Robinson for his under-line performance in those categories. As a result of Robinson's underperformance, a $15,950 payout was redistributed among those who had bet…”It further said:“During that same season, Robinson also placed 13 daily fantasy sports over-line and under-line prop bets, totaling $454, on parlays that included his own performance. Robinson did not win on all of the bets but did collect $618 on one occasion…”When a sports integrity monitoring service alerted Fresno State that a Nevada sportsbook operator had identified questionable prop bets on Robinson, the investigation got underway. Then, Fresno State and the NCAA investigation team discovered on Robinson's phone that he joined with Vasquez to wager on his underline totals for the game on January 7.It further stated that in order "to ensure the under-line bets won," Robinson finished the game with three points, two rebounds, one three-pointer, and no assists. Additionally, Robinson wagered on Weaver, a Fresno State teammate. According to the NCAA, before a game in December 2024, both players shared information on their betting lines. Weaver wagered $50 on a parlay that combined the statistics of a third student-athlete, Robinson, and himself. After the parlay hit, Weaver won $260.However, Weaver cooperated with the investigation, acknowledged the betting, and accepted the penalty, but Vasquez and Robinson told the law enforcement officials they didn't want to be involved. In cooperation with San Jose State and Fresno State, the cases were settled.Despite being seniors the previous season, all three players received the permanent loss of eligibility penalty imposed by NCAA for athletes who wager on their own games. Also read: NCAA sounds alarm over March Madness gambling threats as $3.1 billion in bets expected