Jalen Smith's Plea Signals the End of the NCAA's Gambling Ring

By Quinn Callaghan

On March 9th, Jalen Smith, an alleged perpetrator of the NCAA basketball point-shaving scandal, pleaded guilty in federal court. Smith pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a Department of Justice indictment that first unveiled the gambling ring.

The plea, on charges of wire fraud and bribery, came just one week before the start of the biggest betting event in sports. March Madness sees billions of dollars wagered, both legally and illegally, making the timing of the plea all the more significant. Smith is the first of the 26 people charged to formally enter a guilty plea.

The charges were brought against the 26 defendants – made up of trainers, coaches, professional gamblers, and athletes – in January. Smith's counsel, Rocco Cipparone, said his client pleaded guilty to put the matter behind him, serve his time, and "move forward in his life in a positive direction."

One athlete, former University of New Orleans player Dae Dae Hunter, appeared on Good Morning America and publicly admitted to his participation in the scheme, citing a need to support his family and provide for his child. Many other athletes face similar accusations of “point-shaving,” or deliberately underperforming to ensure certain bets hit. Several, including DePaul and La Salle player Micawber Etienne, have been accused not only of participating in the operation but of actively recruiting other players into it.

Smith admitted to fixing games across both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons. According to prosecutors, Smith would place bets and then recruit players, incentivizing them with the promise of large payouts, to underperform and guarantee those bets would cash. He personally drove cash payments to the athletes involved, traveling as far as Louisiana to deliver $32,000 to two of the players. Smith also pleaded guilty to a weapons charge arising from an FBI raid of his North Carolina home. Due to a stipulation tied to a prior drug charge, he was prohibited from possessing the firearm found there.

The scheme, however, did not originate in college basketball. In 2023, the fixers first tested their operation on Chinese Basketball Association games. After finding success there, they recruited Smith and others and turned their attention to the NCAA. Prosecutors allege the scheme eventually grew to encompass 39 players across more than 17 Division I programs, rigging upwards of 29 games. The fixers netted millions on their wagers while paying players typically between $10,000 and $30,000 per fixed game.

Smith's plea represents an important first step toward restoring integrity to college sports. While many of the 26 charged have yet to enter pleas, Smith's cooperation with prosecutors raises the possibility of swifter resolution as the case moves forward.