Today is a bad day for college basketball and its fans.
Memphis star freshman James Wiseman -- the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft -- was declared ineligible.
The school issued the following statement:
University of Memphis student-athlete James Wiseman has decided to withdraw his lawsuit against the NCAA and the University. The University supports the decision, as it believes it is in James' and the men's basketball team's best interests to resolve his eligibility issue expeditiously through the NCAA process.
In order to move the matter forward, the University has declared James ineligible for competition and will immediately apply for his reinstatement. Pending that notification, James will be withheld from competition but will continue to practice with the team.
The NCAA is fully aware of the unique nature and challenges in this particular case, and the University is confident that the NCAA will render a fair and equitable decision consistent with its mission.
Sports
Spoiler alert -- it will be shocking if the NCAA renders a fair and equitable decision.
Sorry Warriors fans, but you probably won't be able to watch the 18-year-old phenom again this season. Neither will Golden State's front office:
Warriors execs Bob Myers, Mike Dunleavy, and Larry Harris all here to see the Oregon State Beavers tonight. (And also probably to see James Wiseman).— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) November 13, 2019
Wiseman -- who is listed at 7-foot-1 and 240 pounds -- averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in his first three games with the Tigers, while shooting 77 percent overall and over 70 percent from the free throw line.
The Warriors currently sport a record of 2-10, and it's not inconceivable that they end up in position to draft Wiseman in June.
So why is he ineligible exactly? As ESPN's Jeff Borzello writes:
The school acknowledged last week that [Penny] Hardaway, before he became the Tigers' head coach, provided $11,500 in moving expenses for Wiseman and his family to move from Nashville to Memphis in the summer of 2017. At the time, Hardaway was Wiseman's AAU coach and would then coach him at Memphis East High School. Hardaway, a Memphis alum, was considered a booster due to a $1 million donation he gave the school in 2008 to build a sports Hall of Fame.
[RELATED: LeBron, other NBA stars respond to D-Lo's dunking IG post]
Wow. Hardaway is nothing short of a monster and Wiseman should never be allowed to play basketball again.
That's obviously a joke, and it's a complete joke that Wiseman can't suit up for Memphis right now.
