Memphis Star James Wiseman Ruled Ineligible
NC State's basketball game against Memphis in Brooklyn on Thanksgiving Day may just have gotten a lot more interesting.
According to numerous published reports, the nation's top recruit and possible No. 1 overall NBA draft choice has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA. The ruling was quickly put on hold by a judge, allowing the 7-foot-1 freshman to play in Friday's game against Illinois-Chicago.
But the stay is only temporary, pending further litigation. It is not yet known how long it will take for a final ruling to be made.
According to Wiseman's lawer Leslie Ballin, speaking at a news conference Friday, the NCAA ruled the star player ineligible after it was determined that Memphis coach Penny Hardaway had helped move his family to Memphis in 2018.
Hardaway wasn't the Tigers' coach at the time, but has has deemed a booster by the NCAA.
Wiseman chose to play for Hardaway and Memphis over Kentucky, Florida State and Kansas. In his first game on Tuesday, he scored 28 points and had 11 rebounds in the Tigers' 97-64 win against South Carolina State.
The NCAA on Friday issued a sternly worded statement addressing Memphis' decision to allow Wiseman's continued participation.
"The University of Memphis was notified that James Wiseman is ineligible," the statement said. "The university chose to play him and is ultimately responsible for ensuring its student-athletes are eligible to play."
