Tag: James Wiseman

WATCH: Memphis freshman James Wiseman suspended 12 games

University of Memphis freshman James Wiseman will return to the hardwood on Jan. 12.

University of Memphis freshman James Wiseman will return to the hardwood on Jan. 12.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that the 7-foot-1 star is suspended 12 games, with 11 remaining at the time of the announcement.

Penny Hardaway paid $11,500 to help Wiseman and his family relocated to Memphis when the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2019 was in high school. At the time, Hardaway was an AAU coach and coach at East Memphis High School, where Wiseman enrolled.

As a former Memphis player and a donor, Hardaway qualified as a booster, making the financial help an impermissible benefit.

Hardaway is now the Tigers’ head coach.

The NCAA warned Memphis before the season began that the star rookie could be ineligible. The school, athletic department, and team decided to play Wiseman in three games anyway.

Memphis will appeal the suspension, saying Wednesday, “We expect a more fair and equitable resolution, and we will exhaust all avenues on James’ behalf.”

NCAA issues final decision on James Wiseman, sets return date to play

The NCAA on Wednesday issued a decision on the eligibility of James Wiseman, including the date the freshman can return to play.

[jwplayer pQIMNYuT-z6KDnl0B]

The NCAA announced Wednesday afternoon that freshman James Wiseman must sit an 11 additional games based on recruiting inducements his family received prior to enrolling at the University of Memphis.

Wiseman was originally ruled ineligible to play on Nov. 8 after the NCAA determined his family received improper benefits when Penny Hardaway helped the 18-year-old move from Nashville to Memphis in 2017 before he became head coach of the Tigers. Hardaway was considered to be a booster for the program after donating money to the school in 2008.

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 recently withdrew his lawsuit to await a final verdict from the NCAA.

Many believe Wiseman withdrew the lawsuit as the two sides were nearing a resolution on his punishment. As part of the agreement, Wiseman would not appear in a game until the final decision was issued. Now, Wiseman will be cleared to play on Jan. 12 against USF.

Wiseman must also repay $11,500 to a charity — the amount Hardaway loaned to his mother to help cover moving expenses.

Memphis will appeal the decision by the NCAA.

The 7-foot-1 center is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and some even believe he can potentially be the top pick. The arrival of Wiseman helped Hardaway have the No. 1 recruiting class in the country.

In three games this season, Wiseman is averaging 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks per game. Including the USF game on Jan. 12, the Tigers will have 16 games left in the regular season.

[lawrence-related id=7085,7070,7053]

As NBA executives flock to college …

As NBA executives flock to college games to evaluate talent, the NCAA campaign so far has been overshadowed by the eligibility questions surrounding Memphis forward/center James Wiseman, the potential No. 1 overall pick in next June’s draft. Scouts and others would love to see him play, but NBA executives have told The Athletic that Wiseman’s draft stock is solidified from a talent perspective and that there is no sense he will fall out of the lottery picks, even should he miss the rest of the season. “Will him sitting the year impact him a spot or two? Maybe,” one high-ranking team official said. “But it isn’t impacting his financial base. He is known as a talent.”

Three players for the Warriors to watch with James Wiseman ineligible

The 2020 NBA Draft’s top prospect, James Wiseman has been ruled ineligible. With Wiseman out here are some college names Warriors fans need to pay attention too when it comes to draft season

The Memphis Tigers have declared James Wiseman ineligible after the superstar freshman dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA.

Wiseman and the school will apply for reinstatement, but for now, they will sit the big man during games. Wiseman is still eligible to practice with the Tigers in the meantime.

Wiseman was the number one ranked prospect heading into the start of the college basketball season, and the freshman is widely projected to be the number one pick in the 2020 NBA draft. In his first three college games, he averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and three blocks per game.

That’s important for the Golden State Warriors because this year, the draft is especially vital. The Warriors are on a five-game losing streak and hold the NBA’s worst record at 2-10. According to tankathon.com, Golden State has a 14% chance to land the number one pick, which is tied for the highest percentage in the league.

The Warriors desperately need a young playmaker to add to the core, and Wiseman could be the guy. Wiseman’s ineligibility probably won’t have much of an effect on his draft stock, but it’s unfortunate because it’ll be hard to get familiar with his game.

By the time June’s draft rolls around, Wiseman will probably still see his name at the top of many boards, but while he sits, what players should Warriors fans be watching?

Jaden McDaniels, Forward, Washington

There are many guards atop the 2020 draft board, but the Warriors focus could be on the front line. Outside of Wiseman, Washington’s Jaden McDaniels is another big man to follow.

McDaniels is a lengthy player that stands at 6-foot-10 with an 8-foot-11 reach. For his size, he can play all over the court. He can slash and create for others while showcasing a decent jumper. The Washington native isn’t close to being refined as he might have the biggest upside of any player in the draft.

McDaniels could play power forward to start his career with the potential to slide in at the three after some development.

Kahil Whitney, Forward, Kentucky

Every time you flip on NBA League Pass, there’s a former Kentucky Wildcat taking over a game. Wildcats are spread out across the NBA, but the Warriors haven’t drafted a player from Big Blue Nation since 1957.

That could change in 2020.

Kentucky’s Khalil Whitney is an athletic freak that would fit right in with Draymond Green’s lob-ability. The Wildcat is 6-foot-7 and shredded. His strength and athleticism project him to have an immediate impact on the defensive side of the floor.

Matthew Hurt, Forward, Duke

Matthew Hurt is the type of stretch four that Warriors fans have dreamt about since the arrival of the “Splash Brothers.”

Hurt has a quick trigger and a beautiful jumper for a player that stands at 6-foot-9. Hurt can get buckets all over the floor with his veteran-like scoring ability. He’s slender, but has a long frame that could cause problems on the defensive side of the ball.

Hurt is a player to keep an eye on if the Dubs slip out of the top-10 in the draft.

The season has just begun, but it already appears as if it’s going to be long and tedious. Already, the Warriors are thinking about this June’s draft, and these three players are among those that should be at the top of their board.

WATCH: Memphis basketball star James Wiseman withdraws lawsuit against NCAA

James Wiseman and his legal team withdrew their lawsuit against the NCAA on Thursday.

Memphis basketball star James Wiseman and the NCAA seem to be one step closer to a resolution as the freshman fights for eligibility.

Wiseman and his legal team withdrew their lawsuit against the NCAA on Thursday as, per a statement from his legal team, the lawsuit against the NCAA is impeding a resolution regarding his eligibility.

The NCAA declared him ineligible in early November due to an “extra benefit” from 2017. Wiseman and his mother, Donzaleigh Artis, accepted approximately $11,000 from Penny Hardaway, who was a high school basketball coach in Memphis at the time. Though Hardaway was not working for the University of Memphis at that point, he was considered a booster as he had made a $1 million donation to the university back in 2008.

Wiseman’s legal team filed the suit last week because he had already been declared eligible for this season back in May. The lawsuit deemed the NCAA’s actions “arbitrary and capricious.”

Memphis has declared Wiseman ineligible as the NCAA continues its work on the case. In a statement released Thursday, Memphis announced that it would immediately apply for Wiseman’s reinstatement. The team leader in points, rebounds and blocks will be able to practice with his team as the NCAA’s investigation continues.

Jay Bilas explains what’s next for James Wiseman in battle against NCAA

What’s next for James Wiseman after his lawsuit against the NCAA was withdrawn?

Memphis star freshman and top NBA Draft prospect James Wiseman has been officially declared ineligible, and has withdrawn his lawsuit against the NCAA in the hopes of reaching a resolution on his status moving forward.

Memphis was initially informed that Wiseman was “likely ineligible” last week, but he was able to continue playing after a county judge granted an injunction.

The NCAA ruled Wiseman ineligible after discovering that Memphis coach Penny Hardaway, who is considered a booster, gave the Wiseman family $11,500 in 2017 to help with moving expenses. After the move, Wiseman played for the high school team that was coached by Hardaway at the time. Memphis East High School could potentially be stripped of the state championship Wiseman helped win.

On Thursday, Memphis announced that Wiseman’s lawsuit has been withdrawn, and that Wiseman will apply for reinstatement. Wiseman will be allowed to practice, but will be held out of games.

ESPN’s Jay Bilas broke down the situation and explained what comes next for Wiseman and Memphis.

“There have been discussions between Memphis and the NCAA about Wiseman’s status, but the NCAA told Wiseman’s attorneys, and I assume told Memphis, that it would not reach a resolution of Wiseman’s status while a lawsuit was pending. So Wiseman decided to withdraw the lawsuit – and there could be a couple of reasons for that.

One, it could be that the lawsuit was withdrawn just so that they could begin the process of doing this, and the NCAA could very well have threatened that they would open up a separate infractions case on Memphis for for playing an ineligible player.

It could also be that the two parties, Memphis and the NCAA, had reached a wink and a nod agreement as to how this would shake out if they were to withdraw the lawsuit, declare him ineligible, and then seek reinstatement… The ball is back in the NCAA’s court where they get to do it, essentially, their way.”

WHEN COULD WISEMAN RETURN?

If Memphis and the NCAA are able to reach a resolution quickly – which isn’t a given – Wiseman should be back by midseason.

“He will be able to play again. $11,500 from a booster would normally be, according to the matrix the NCAA uses, a third of the season, or nine games. Maybe it’ll be shorter than that, maybe it’ll be the whole nine, I don’t know where that’s going to shake out.

Ultimately, what it means for James Wiseman after this year when he goes to the NBA Draft is zero. The NBA doesn’t care about any of this stuff, so it’s not going to affect his draft status or his future at all.”

[vertical-gallery id=869536]