Memphis hoops star ends suit against NCAA
Memphis freshman centre James Wiseman has dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA, his attorneys announced in a statement Thursday, with the school moving forward to officially restore his eligibility.
The NCAA ruled last Friday that the 18-year-old was “likely ineligible” for receiving improper benefits when he was in high school, with the Tigers electing to play him anyway in games against Illinois-chicago and Oregon after Wiseman filed his lawsuit.
With the lawsuit dropped, Memphis immediately declared its star player ineligible while moving to apply for his reinstatement.
“The University supports the decision, as it believes it is in James’ and the men’s basketball team’s best interest to resolve his eligibility issue expeditiously through the NCAA process,” the school said in a statement.
Wiseman was the top-rated recruit in the 2019 class in the 247Sports composite ratings and is considered a potential No. 1 selection in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Wiseman made his debut for No. 13 Memphis last week in a 97-64 win over South Carolina State, scoring 28 points with 11 rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes.
He played again Friday in a 92-46 win over Illinois-chicago, scoring 17 points, pulling down nine rebounds and blocking five shots. In an 82-74 loss to Oregon on Tuesday at Portland, he had 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Attorney Leslie Ballin said the NCAA determined that Memphis coach Penny Hardaway — before he was hired by the university — provided US$11,500 to help Wiseman and his family move from Nashville to Memphis in 2017.
The assistance was unknown to Wiseman, the school said.
Hardaway, who previously coached Wiseman on the grassroots basketball circuit, coached Wiseman at East High in the 201718 season before taking the head coaching job with the Tigers for the 2018-19 season.
Wiseman signed a letter of intent at Memphis in November 2018.