Memphis Tigers freshman center James Wiseman announced on Instagram Thursday afternoon that he will withdraw from school and sign with an agent in order to train for the NBA Draft.
The decision comes after Wiseman was ruled ineligible to play this season after the NCAA concluded that his family received improper benefits prior to enrolling at Memphis when head coach Penny Hardaway loaned $11,500 to his mother for moving expenses.
Following the decision by the NCAA, Wiseman and the university filed a lawsuit to temporarily block the ruling, which a Shelby County judge granted pending further litigation. Wiseman played two more games for Memphis but eventually withdrew his lawsuit to await a final verdict from the NCAA.
The NCAA announced on Nov. 20 a final ruling that Wiseman would be required to sit an additional 11 games, in addition to the one game served. Wiseman would have been cleared to return to play against USF on Jan. 12 but will now leave school to focus on his future.
The five-star prospect is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. Wiseman has the physical attributes that will intrigue teams and he can be a force in the paint given his 7-foot-6 wingspan. In three games with the Tigers, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks.
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