The NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions handed former Abilene Christian guard Airion Simmons a permanent ban on Friday, citing his role in a point‑shaving scheme that targeted a March 2024 game. Simmons, who played for the Wildcats from 2019 to 2024, allegedly colluded with a teammate and a bettor to lose the contest for cash. His eligibility ends immediately.

Prosecutors indicted Simmons and two bettors in January on bribery, fraud and conspiracy charges. Investigators say the fix hinged on a $3,500 payoff to “play bad,” with Simmons citing a hand injury and unclear status to hide the plan. A former teammate later recounted a FaceTime call where the trio urged him to join, confirming the game’s result was already set.

Simmons joins two former Fordham players who received identical bans last month, expanding a list of student‑athletes stripped of eligibility for gambling‑related misconduct. The Wildcats lose a former starter’s legacy while the NCAA sends a stark warning to programs about compliance failures. The ban removes any chance for Simmons to return to collegiate competition, ending his basketball career at the college level.