Two Fordham Basketball Players Permanently Banned After Point-Shaving Scheme Exposed

The NCAA dropped the hammer on Tuesday, handing down permanent bans to two former Fordham basketball players who got caught up in a federal point-shaving conspiracy that rocked college hoops earlier this year. Elijah Gray and Will Richardson each agreed to throw a game against Duquesne on February 23, 2024, in exchange for cash that never materialized. This wasn't some random scheme either, it was part of a sprawling federal indictment unsealed in January that pulled in more than two dozen people accused of conspiring to fix games.

Gray Cooperated, Richardson Didn't

Here's where the stories split. Gray came clean with NCAA investigators, admitting he'd agreed to underperform during that Duquesne matchup for between $10,000 and $15,000. But here's the thing: he actually played hard anyway and never got paid. Fordham beat Duquesne 79-67 in the end. Gray told investigators he violated ethical conduct rules by sharing information with a known bettor, and the NCAA said he "expressed remorse for his actions." He's already agreed to plead guilty in the federal case, with sentencing scheduled for July.

Richardson? Total different vibe. He declined to comment to ESPN and didn't cooperate with NCAA investigators. Worse, the NCAA says Richardson knowingly handed over false information during an October 2025 interview. While Gray came partially clean, Richardson doubled down, and that made all the difference.

The Scheme and What Came Next

The bettors who pitched this whole thing to Gray and Richardson didn't lead with "hey, want to throw a game?" Instead, they posed as agents offering to help them land NIL deals. Classic con move. Gray figured out what was really going on and refused to follow through. Richardson? He stayed in contact with the person running the scheme, according to the NCAA.

Both players transferred after the 2023-24 season. Gray went to Temple and then Wisconsin. Richardson landed at Albany. Neither has competed since the 2024-25 season ended. Now they're both done for good at the NCAA level.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.