Kansas transfer Grimes eligible to play this season
Quentin Grimes is eligible to play this season for the University of Houston after the NCAA granted his waiver request Tuesday.
Grimes, a 6-5 guard, had been waiting for word since transferring from Kansas in July.
“I’m really happy for Quentin and his family. Thank you to the NCAA for approving his waiver,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “We’ve got a lot of work to, a long way to go, and look forward to getting after it.”
Since joining the Cougars,
Grimes has gone through the offseason conditioning program and accompanied the team during a summer trip to Italy. All along, Grimes has been working with the first team in preparation for the season, which begins Nov. 12 against Alabama State.
“This has been a little bit of a tumultuous time,” Sampson said. “The fact he now knows and can prepare for today and tomorrow knowing next time we suit up he’s going to be out there.”
In Grimes’ favor, according to a source not authorized to speak publicly, was
Kansas’ support for him to be immediately eligible. The website watchstadium.com reported Grimes received his eligibility based on fact the Jayhawks did not have an open scholarship spot available after he withdrew his name from the NBA draft and decided to return to school.
“When we submitted the waiver, we didn’t know how (the NCAA) would be thinking, how they were going to read it,” said Grimes, who will have three years of eligibility. “I knew it would be around this week. The past couple of days, I was kind of nervous.”
Grimes said the decision “takes a big weight off my shoulders.”
“Coach Sampson has been coaching me every day as if I was playing this season,” Grimes said. “I was in position to be ready and be an impact right away.”
As a freshman, Grimes started all 36 games for the Jayhawks, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and shot 38.4 percent from the field. Grimes was a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American at College Park.