Memphis will appeal 12-game ban on freshman star
Memphis star freshman centre James Wiseman, declared ineligible earlier this month, will be able to return to the basketball court in January after serving a 12-game suspension, the NCAA announced Wednesday.
Wiseman, who has already sat out one game, is on track to play at South Florida on Jan. 12.
The punishment comes after 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, Tenn., to Memphis in 2017. The assistance was unknown to Wiseman, the school said.
The NCAA wrote: “The benefit was impermissible because of Hardaway’s status as a Memphis booster. Hardaway had made donations to the school in the past, including $1 million to help build the Penny Hardaway Athletic Hall of Fame at the school. Boosters cannot provide financial assistance to prospective student-athletes, their family members or friends unless that assistance is generally available to other members of the student body and is not given based on athletics ability.”
The NCAA also stipulated Wednesday that Wiseman “must donate $11,500 to a charity of his choice.”
Memphis issued a statement in which it said it will appeal the ruling.
“Based on case precedent, the circumstances of this case and other mitigating factors, the University will immediately appeal this decision,” the statement said. “We expect a more fair and equitable resolution, and we will exhaust all avenues on James’ behalf.”
The 7-foot-1 Wiseman is expected to be in contention for the top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and was the crown jewel of Hardaway’s top-rated recruiting class in the 247 Sports composite rankings. But the battle over the freshman’s eligibility started after he had 28 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes in a season-opening win over South Carolina State on Nov. 5.
The NCAA declared Wiseman ineligible on Nov. 8, but his lawyers won a temporary restraining order and he played that night and in one more game before he dropped his lawsuit last Thursday. Per NCAA protocol, the school then officially declared him ineligible so it could apply to the NCAA for his reinstatement. He did not play Saturday against Alcorn State.
In coming up with the 12-game suspension, the NCAA cited the three games in which Wiseman played when he was ineligible.
Wiseman is averaging 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, shooting 76.9 per cent from the field (20 of 26).