The college basketball season just got a lot stranger, as Memphis Tigers big man James Wiseman has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA. Expected to be a top NBA Draft pick in 2020, this is a big blow to Penny Hardaway and company.
There's a lot to unpack here, so buckle up, friends:
The NCAA ruled that Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway helped pay for James Wiseman and his family to move to Memphis while he was still in high school, which makes Hardaway a booster, according to Wiseman's lawyers. This will have huge implications for the 2020 NBA Draft. https://t.co/7G8BRrNChJ
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 8, 2019
It needs to be made clear that the “2008” part in the original Woj report is a typo. If that were true, James Wiseman would have been seven. He later clarified it in a separate tweet to let the world know he meant 2018.
But wait… there's more!
The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2019 class is now suing the NCAA:
Breaking news: High profile Memphis attorney Leslie Ballin says the NCAA has ruled James Wiseman ineligible to play. He says Penny Hardaway helped finance Wiseman and his family’s move to Memphis back in high school. The NCAA has deemed Penny a booster.
— Sudu (@sudu_tv) November 8, 2019
Wiseman’s lawyer told reporters that NCAA alleges Hardaway paid “thousands” of dollars in moving expenses when Wiseman moved from Nashville to Memphis in high school. Lawyer also said that Wiseman is now suing the NCAA.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 8, 2019
At the time of this writing, it is not yet known of Penny Hardaway will get any additional sanctions other than losing his top player.
It's worth noting, before all of this, the NCAA did rule Wiseman eligible while previously reviewing a similar set of circumstances (or, maybe, the same but without as much “proof” at the time).
James Wiseman moved from Nashville to Memphis and played for Penny Hardaway at Memphis East his junior and senior years in high school. Also played for Penny in AAU ball. NCAA deeming Penny a booster for helping to pay moving expenses.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 8, 2019
Nevertheless, as a college basketball loving couldn't care any less about if Hardaway helping a kid move to Memphis, the NCAA just made one of its money-sports measurably worse.
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