College Basketball News: James Wiseman Officially Suspended As NCAA Rejects Appeal

James Wiseman will be officially serving a 12-game hiatus from the game after the ruling set out by the NCAA about his eligibility was upheld on Wednesday. The decision by the organization spoiled the multiple efforts that the Memphis Tigers management and Wiseman himself exerted to lift the suspension.

"This morning, the NCAA's Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement upheld the conditions of reinstatement for men's basketball student-athlete James Wiseman,” Memphis confirmed. “ Although disappointing, we look forward to a promising season."

The 18-year-old freshman standout was ruled ineligible by the college basketball committee early this month after Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway was found out to give Wiseman and his family $11,500 in 2017 to cover his moving expenses. The family then insisted that they had no knowledge about the said money.

An emergency TRO was issued next that allowed Wiseman to play against UIC. The 7’1 five-star recruit then filed a lawsuit against the NCAA only to withdraw it a week later, prompting Memphis to declare him ineligible - a move treated as the university's gesture of cooperation to the organization. The team's officials, however, said that they “will immediately apply for his (Wiseman's) reinstatement”.

The efforts, however, all went down the drain as the NCAA stood firm to their initial resolution. James Wiseman is expected to miss action until Jan. 12 next year. The NCAA also ordered Wiseman to pay the $11,500 mentioned amount and hand it over to his chosen charity.

James Wiseman, a top prospect in the 2020 NBA draft, took his Twitter account following the decision to get his sentiments across. “Sometimes bad things happen to good people. God has never left me nor forsaken me throughout this process! God knows my destiny and I feel that even though hardships may be upon me! It too shall pass in the Grace of God. My journey isn’t finished, and this too shall pass,” he said.

The Tennessee-raised baller averaged 19.7 points and 10.7 boards per outing in the three games he played in the season.