Fresno State guard Zaon Collins dribbling against Colorado State University at the Save Mart Center on Jan. 25.

Men’s basketball athletes under investigation due to betting concerns

By Alexis Bruno, Finnley Pendergast, and Valentina Saldaña

Feb 22, 2025

The Fresno State men’s basketball team is without two key players in its road matchup against Air Force.

Guards Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins are being withheld from competition due to eligibility issues, which may stem from a university investigation into betting, according to The Fresno Bee.

The NCAA rule states that betting is not permitted on any sports in intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competitions and may lead to permanent ineligibility or suspension from games.

Weaver is a senior at Fresno State but would be able to claim his last year of junior college eligibility, but it is now uncertain with this situation.

Collins’ athletic eligibility is also uncertain at this time.

The news broke just under an hour before the noon tip-off between the Bulldogs and the Falcons.

An email sent by Joshua Mitchell, Fresno State men’s basketball strategic communications director, shared that the university will not comment at this time.

“Fresno State men’s basketball student-athletes Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins are being withheld from competition as the University reviews an eligibility matter,” Mitchell said. “The University and Athletics Department will have no further comments regarding the matter at this time.”

The Collegian reached out to university communications for further comment and Lisa Bell, public information officer, provided the same statement.

Collins traveled with the team to Colorado but Weaver did not.

The two guards lead the Bulldogs in multiple statistical categories this season. Weaver averages a team-high 12.5 points per game as well as the third-most minutes per game. Collins is just behind him at 12 points per game with a team-high 4.7 assists per game and 1.9 steals per game.

This isn’t the first time the ‘Dogs have had issues with eligibility.

Forward Makhan Diouf hasn’t played at all this season due to eligibility. Forward Mykell Robinson is also being investigated for betting concerns and has been away from the team since the overtime loss to the University of Nevada, Reno on Jan. 11.

Head coach Vance Walberg and the ‘Dogs have lost their last nine games with their last win coming at home against Air Force on Jan. 17.

The team will look to end their losing streak with a severely depleted roster, having only seven active players.

Check for Updates

Pinned

Updated

Feb 28, 2025, 7:23 pm

By Finnley Pendergast, Sports Editor

Weaver and Robinson caught using fantasy apps to bet on themselves

Chase Gauthier/The Collegian

Mykell Robinson during press conference following home loss to San Diego State University on Dec. 4, 2024 at the Save Mart Center.

The investigation continues for the Fresno State men’s basketball betting scandal.

Guard Jalen Weaver and forward Mykell Robinson both entered daily fantasy sports contests for games that they were playing in.

Robinson, who has been off the team since the overtime loss to University of Nevada, Reno on Jan. 11, made daily fantasy bets taking the under on his points and rebounds. In his final game, Robinson finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds and one assist.

Weaver, on the other hand, bet on his own point total in a home game against New Mexico on Dec. 31, 2024. He bet $50 on the site, Sleeper, that he would score more than 11-points against the Lobos. Weaver ended with 13 points in the Bulldogs’ 103-89 loss.

“I just made a bad decision, and I shouldn’t even have gotten involved with that,” Weaver said to ESPN. “Now, I’m obviously paying for it.”

Weaver has since been removed from the team.

The other player involved in sports betting is Zaon Collins. The sophomore guard made bets on professional sports. Collins was held out of the loss to Air Force but has not been removed from the team.

It is unclear if Collins will make a return to the court for the Bulldogs this season. Fresno State has two more games until the Mountain West Tournament.

With or without Collins, the ‘Dogs next play Boise State at home in the Save Mart Center on Saturday, March 1 at 4 p.m.

Updated

Feb 24, 2025, 11:43 am

By Finnley Pendergast, Sports Editor

Update: Jalen Weaver officially off the team

Multiple members of the Fresno State men’s basketball team are being investigated for sports betting.

Forward Mykell Robinson and guard Jalen Weaver are among two of the three players being investigated. ABC 30 Actions News reported that Robinson and Weaver were betting on games they were actively involved in.

Robinson hasn’t been with the team for the last month and has since been removed. Weaver did not travel with the team to Colorado where the Bulldogs took on Air Force. He is not expected to return to the team.

As for the other player involved, guard Zaon Collins did not bet on Fresno State games but did place bets on professional sports. Collins was seen on the Bulldogs bench but was not active in the loss to Air Force on Saturday.

The NCAA rules ban participation in betting or providing information about potential bets for any student-athlete, coach or team member.

News broke just an hour before tip-off that Weaver and Collins would be withheld from competition.

As for the Bulldogs’ game against Air Force, Head Coach Vance Walberg had to compete with just seven active members of the team.

Of the seven active players, four played for 38 or more minutes.

The ‘Dogs took the Falcons to overtime but could not come out with the victory, losing 72-69.

The loss marks the Bulldogs’ tenth loss in a row, a program record. It plunges them to a 5-23 overall record and 1-16 Mountain West Conference record. The Dogs have made program history with the most conference losses and the most losses in a season.

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