#5 Simeon Cottle dribbles into the paint against FIU on Jan. 14 at VyStar Arena. Photo by: Jackson Louneounbonh.
Kennesaw State men’s basketball star Simeon Cottle and former standout forward Demond Robinson were charged in a point-shaving scheme on Thursday morning involving more than 39 college basketball players.
“20 men were charged in a point-shaving scheme involving more than 39 college basketball players on more than 17 NCAA Division I teams and leading to more than 29 games being fixed, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday,” ESPN’s David Payne Purdum reported on his X account at 9:56 a.m. on Thursday.
Among the players charged was Cottle, a fourth-year contributor for the Owls, the last remaining scholarship player from the Owls’ 2022-23 NCAA Tournament run and the team’s current leading scorer at 20.2 points per game.
Robinson, who started 91 games for the Owls between 2021-22 and 2023-24 and currently plays professionally for a club in Bulgaria was also named in the indictment.
According to Atlanta NBC affiliate 11Alive, federal records show both Cottle and Robinson face two federal counts: One bribery in sporting contests (aiding and abetting), and one conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Despite bench warrants being signed for their arrests on Wednesday, Cottle started for the Owls in a home win over Florida International later the same day.
According to the indictment, Cottle and Robinson were allegedly recruited to be part of the point-shaving scheme in February 2024, during head coach Antoine Pettway’s first season with the program.
The indictment alleges defendant Jalen Smith first spoke with Cottle over a FaceTime call and enlisted him to recruit his teammates for the scheme, which Cottle did.
Then, Cottle, Robinson and an unnamed “Person #12” allegedly agreed to underperform in and influence KSU’s game on March 1 against Queens University according to the indictment.
Smith allegedly maintained contact with Cottle and the members of the team who were in agreement with the scheme, and according to the indictment texted Cottle “I need both of y’all on FaceTime with me twice today so let’s see if we can do a call right after shoot around …. Just to make sure y’all good and really locked in …. [T]his money guaranteed [,] ima be at the game with [the money] so I just want no issues all yall end.”
According to the indictment, Cottle responded affirmatively and reassured Smith of their willingness to go along with the scheme before Smith sent Cottle a photograph of approximately $100,000 in cash.
In the game played at Curry Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the campus of Queens University, the first half spread leaned in favor of the hosting Royals by 1.5 points in most American sportsbooks.
Prior to the beginning of the game, defendants including Marves Fairley and Shane Hennen allegedly wagered approximately $20,000 on Queens to cover the first half spread according to the indictment.
Cottle scored 0 points in the first half, while KSU was outscored 52-39 in the period before proceeding to score 13 points in the second half.
According to the indictment, on or around March 4, 2024, Cottle allegedly provided Smith with an address for the delivery on the campus of KSU to which Smith and Fairley arranged for a co-schemer to deliver approximately $40,000 as payment for Cottle, Robinson and Person #12’s participation in the scheme according to the indictment.
The following season, Cottle allegedly according to the indictment attempted to continue in the point-shaving scheme with Smith, who offered to “flash 200k [$200,000] to help persuade” in an attempt to recruit Cottle’s teammates to the scheme. Cottle responded to Smith that other players on the team were not interested according to the indictment.
At 3:12 p.m. KSU released the statement: “Kennesaw State University is aware of the reports involving men’s basketball student-athlete Simeon Cottle and former student-athlete Demond Robinson. Cottle has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities. KSU has no further public comment at this time.”
