Kennesaw State Owls forward Demond Robinson (0), guard Simeon Cottle (2) and guard Chris Youngblood (3) look on during a college basketball game against the Indiana Hoosiers on December 23, 2022 at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Joe …
ATLANTA - Kennesaw State has suspended its leading scorer as federal prosecutors charge two current and former Owls players in a sweeping college basketball game-fixing investigation tied to illegal sports betting.
The university confirmed that Simeon Cottle, a current student-athlete and Kennesaw State’s top scorer this season, has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities. Former Owl Demond Robinson is also named in the federal indictment. Kennesaw State said it has no further public comment at this time.
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Federal prosecutors allege Cottle and Robinson were recruited into a points-shaving operation during the 2023–24 season and agreed to intentionally underperform in exchange for bribe payments connected to sports betting. The charges stem from an alleged scheme to influence the outcome of games for wagering purposes, with both players facing counts of bribery in sporting contests and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Bench warrants were issued this week. Prosecutors emphasize the allegations do not involve games from the current season and that all defendants are presumed innocent.
Court records focus on Kennesaw State’s March 1, 2024, game against Queens University of Charlotte, where sportsbooks favored Queens by a narrow margin in the first half. Investigators allege roughly $20,000 was wagered on Queens to cover the first-half spread and that players involved influenced play to ensure that outcome. Queens led by 13 points at halftime before Kennesaw State outscored them in the second half but still lost the game.
Prosecutors say Cottle was in contact with alleged organizers on the day of the game and received messages showing large sums of cash tied to the scheme. Days later, payments were allegedly arranged for both Cottle and Robinson. The indictment further claims Cottle later attempted to recruit additional teammates, though those efforts were unsuccessful.
The case is part of a broader federal investigation announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which charged 26 people in an alleged international conspiracy involving NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games. Authorities say more than 39 players across at least 17 Division I programs were targeted.
The NCAA said the investigation highlights ongoing integrity concerns tied to sports betting. NCAA President Charlie Baker said the association has active or completed integrity investigations involving nearly all teams named in the indictment and has opened betting-related investigations into about 40 student-athletes over the past year, with multiple athletes already losing eligibility permanently.