http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...-play-ncaa

Kentucky's highly touted freshman big man Skal Labissiere has not been cleared to play by the NCAA, his guardian told ESPN on Wednesday.

"Not yet," Labissiere's guardian, Gerald Hamilton, told ESPN. "We're just trying to get everything squared away. They are asking a few questions.

"They haven't cleared him, but we're sticking with our faith," he added. "There's no real concern about anything from the Kentucky compliance people."

When asked about the specific reason Labissiere has yet to be cleared, Hamilton told ESPN he did not wish to comment.

Kentucky spokesman Eric Lindsey told ESPN the school will not confirm eligibility of its players until game-day but did say that Labissiere has been practicing with the team.

Multiple sources told ESPN that the NCAA was looking into Hamilton and his relationship with Labissiere, but Hamilton declined to comment on whether that was the holdup.

The NCAA had no immediate comment Wednesday.


Freshman big man Skal Labissiere still has some NCAA hurdles to clear before he is able to play for the Wildcats, according to his guardian. Kelly Kline/Getty Images
The 6-foot-11, 225-pound Labissiere, who is originally from Haiti, is considered a sure-fire lottery pick by NBA executives -- and was the No. 2-ranked high school player in the Class of 2015 by ESPN.

Labissiere arrived in the United States in 2010 from Haiti after the devastating earthquake that hit the country. Hamilton has moved Labissiere from Evangelical Christian School to Lausanne Collegiate -- both around Memphis, Tennessee -- where he was ruled ineligible to play. Labissiere wound up playing for Memphis-based Reach Your Dream Prep, which Hamilton formed to give the talented big man somewhere to play for his senior campaign.

Kentucky's season opener is Nov. 13 in Lexington against Albany. Labissiere isn't the only elite prospect awaiting NCAA clearance. Kansas freshman forward Cheick Diallo, who was ranked No. 7 in the ESPN 100, is practicing with the Jayhawks but has not been granted NCAA eligibility to play in games.

Diallo, a Mali native, attended Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York, for three years. OSNA is under review by the NCAA, but 2015 graduates Damon Wilson (Pittsburgh) and Davon Dillard (Oklahoma State) were recently cleared to play.

"We hope in two weeks, maybe three weeks, before we have a definite answer," Kansas coach Bill Self said in a radio interview Monday.

Kansas also opens its season on Nov. 13, against Northern Colorado.

Imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth at MT.org if Skal had signed here. The entire page would be full of conspiracy theories and incessant rants about how picked-on the UofM is.

That kid would never get cleared if he was at Memphis

Whatever helps y'all sleep at night.

(10-08-2015 06:26 AM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  That kid would never get cleared if he was at Memphis

We'd probably have to take down a banner just for asking.

In a related story, someone in my office just farted.

(10-08-2015 06:26 AM)ksigtigerdood Wrote:  That kid would never get cleared if he was at Memphis

Kentucky has a history of not getting players cleared too.......Enes Kanter.

Yawn.

Dude ain't here and he's no TIGER!!! LET IT GO!!!

He will get cleared without issue...

The only person who didn't play was the professional they brought in.

The NCAA? Is that the same bunch that cleared Derrick Rose to play?

I'm guessing that they are looking into who funded the Prep Team he was on?

NTR

If we aren't gonna put Tiger recruiting info on this forum no reason to put UK recruiting info on this forum.

Paypal Cal will make it happen

He's practicing with the team. Thought that was prohibited until cleared.

(10-08-2015 04:00 AM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...-play-ncaa

Kentucky's highly touted freshman big man Skal Labissiere has not been cleared to play by the NCAA, his guardian told ESPN on Wednesday.

"Not yet," Labissiere's guardian, Gerald Hamilton, told ESPN. "We're just trying to get everything squared away. They are asking a few questions.

"They haven't cleared him, but we're sticking with our faith," he added. "There's no real concern about anything from the Kentucky compliance people."

When asked about the specific reason Labissiere has yet to be cleared, Hamilton told ESPN he did not wish to comment.

Kentucky spokesman Eric Lindsey told ESPN the school will not confirm eligibility of its players until game-day but did say that Labissiere has been practicing with the team.

Multiple sources told ESPN that the NCAA was looking into Hamilton and his relationship with Labissiere, but Hamilton declined to comment on whether that was the holdup.

The NCAA had no immediate comment Wednesday.


Freshman big man Skal Labissiere still has some NCAA hurdles to clear before he is able to play for the Wildcats, according to his guardian. Kelly Kline/Getty Images
The 6-foot-11, 225-pound Labissiere, who is originally from Haiti, is considered a sure-fire lottery pick by NBA executives -- and was the No. 2-ranked high school player in the Class of 2015 by ESPN.

Labissiere arrived in the United States in 2010 from Haiti after the devastating earthquake that hit the country. Hamilton has moved Labissiere from Evangelical Christian School to Lausanne Collegiate -- both around Memphis, Tennessee -- where he was ruled ineligible to play. Labissiere wound up playing for Memphis-based Reach Your Dream Prep, which Hamilton formed to give the talented big man somewhere to play for his senior campaign.

Kentucky's season opener is Nov. 13 in Lexington against Albany. Labissiere isn't the only elite prospect awaiting NCAA clearance. Kansas freshman forward Cheick Diallo, who was ranked No. 7 in the ESPN 100, is practicing with the Jayhawks but has not been granted NCAA eligibility to play in games.

Diallo, a Mali native, attended Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York, for three years. OSNA is under review by the NCAA, but 2015 graduates Damon Wilson (Pittsburgh) and Davon Dillard (Oklahoma State) were recently cleared to play.

"We hope in two weeks, maybe three weeks, before we have a definite answer," Kansas coach Bill Self said in a radio interview Monday.

Kansas also opens its season on Nov. 13, against Northern Colorado.

ESPN should be embarrassed by this article. Either the writer has done the worst job in history of research or he is complicit in the cover up. They gloss over the main issues in play while trying to make Hamilton look like a saint.

(10-08-2015 11:01 AM)Pastnerized Wrote:  He's practicing with the team. Thought that was prohibited until cleared.

Only for grade related issues. I suspect he will be cleared but will have to miss a few games and disa$$ociate himself from Hamilton.

(10-08-2015 01:18 PM)mairving Wrote:  

(10-08-2015 11:01 AM)Pastnerized Wrote:  He's practicing with the team. Thought that was prohibited until cleared.

Only for grade related issues. I suspect he will be cleared but will have to miss a few games and disa$$ociate himself from Hamilton.

You mean Hamilton might just sell his interest in Skal outright? That would be interesting in a disgusting sort of way.