7 Star NCAA Freshmen Still Not Cleared For ’12-’13 Season

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  Every single season there seems to be some ultra hyped high school hoops star that fails to qualify in time to begin their freshman season on time for their respective club.

  Whether it’s because of academics, changing too many high schools, or being compensated as an amateur overseas, the NCAA Clearinghouse has been very slow to clear a number of recent incoming NCAA freshmen over the past few years like potential 2013 Lottery pick Tony Mitchell at North Texas last season, Enes Kanter at Kentucky and Josh Selby at Kansas in 2010, and John Wall at Kentucky in 2009.

  This year is no different as several Top 100 rated prospects from the 2012 Class still have yet to be fully cleared to participate with their respective teams.  Surely top teams involved like UCLA, Kentucky, and NC State will wait intently to hear a determination on their star freshman players.

  Check out 7 Star NCAA Freshmen Still Not Cleared For ’12-’13 Season:

  

   

  
  

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  Power Forward     6’9     270lbs 

     #26 in 2012 Class

  Back in late April when star HS big man Tony Parker decided to join his friends Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams, and
  Shabazz Muhammed on the #1 rated incoming freshman class, he thought they were coming together to form a superteam reminiscent of Kentucky’s 2012 Championship squad.  But unfortunately for Parker, his eligibility has come under investigation for possible recruiting violations when he ultimately chose the Bruins over the his homestate Georgia Bulldogs.  Parker’s situation isn’t seen as dire as a few other players on the list but may not be eligible by season’s start.  If he is cleared in time, the Bruins are getting a big man that reminds many of former Ohio State PF Jared Sullinger.

  Update: As of this week, Parker has been totally cleared by the NCAA to participate in all team activities.

  
  

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  Shooting Guard     6’6     190lbs

  #21 in 2013 Class

  When star shooting guard Ricardo Ledo spurned other top tier programs to join fellow 5 star New England based PG Kris Dunn in staying home to play for coach Ed Cooley and the Friars, many thought this would finally be the year that Providence joins the elite teams of the Big East.  After all, Ledo reminds many of a young Paul Pierce because of his immense size and power game at the SG position.  But unfortunately for Friar fans both Dunn and Ledo won’t be suiting up anytime soon as Dunn suffered a severe injury late in his senior season requiring surgery and Ledo has failed to qualify academically for next season.  He was granted a partial qualifier and will be allowed to take classes and practice with the team at Providence but cannot make his NCAA debut until ’13-’14.

  
  

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  Power Forward     6’8     230lbs

  #7 in 2013 Class

  It’s not often that a Top 10 recruit spurns an offer from Kentucky but that precisely what immediate impact big man Anthony Bennett did when he committed to UNLV, chosing to stay close to his HS roots as a former player for the prestigious Findlay Prep.  Bennett reminds some of former Rebel standout Larry Johnson but with a better perimeter game.  Anthony has already missed a preseason trip to his native Canada in late August and may be in danger of missing part of the upcoming season over red flags raised when he transferred from a HS in Canada to Findlay Prep 2 seasons ago.  While not a major infraction, the NCAA always takes a closer look when attending multiple high schools, especially when it involves another country.  At worst case, Bennett should be cleared by the 2nd semester, joining fellow incoming freshman stars Katin Reinhardt, Savon Goodman, Daquan Cook, and star transfers Roscoe Smith from UConn and Khem Birch from Pitt.

  
  

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  Shooting Guard     6’4     190lbs

  #20 in 2013 Class

  When veteran coach Mark Gottfried got a commitment from multi-talented guard Rodney Purvis for next season, he thought he was getting a potential one-and-done player in the mold of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade.  The All American guard is a bit undersized for his position but plays much bigger because of a bruising, take-it-to-the-rack type game that played out well against fellow players in his class, earning McDonald’s All American honors and winning Co-MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic.  But unfortunately for Wolfpack fans, Purvis is still being investigated by the NCAA because of his rather unknown HS, Upper Room Christian.  At the tiny prep school in North Carolina, Rodney was the first ever member of it’s initial graduating class.  It can’t be all bad, as even though the NCAA further examines his coursework at Upper Room, they have cleared him to take classes on campus but he is still ineligible to practice with the team.

  
  

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  Small Forward     6’7     190lbs

  #5 in 2013 Class

  It’s not that often that a HS player gets compared to NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, but that’s the case of Anderson, who projects as an immediate impact player and potential Top 5 pick in next year’s NBA Draft.  In a strange twist of fate, Anderson was initially cleared and even suited up for the Bruins on their recent trip to China, even dropping a double-double, but has since been shut down amidst the NCAA now taking a closer look at his recruitment from his New Jersey based legendary HS St. Anthony’s.  While it’s doubtful that his HOF high school coach Bob Hurley would allow any sort of discrepancies or illicit behavior around his vaunted program, the NCAA has ruled Anderson ineligible pending the outcome of their most recent investigation of both he ant incoming teammate Tony Parker.

  
  

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  Center     6’10     215lbs

  #1 in 2013 Class

  After reclassifying initially from the 2012 Class into 2013 because of a growth plate injury in his sophomore season then deciding to reclassify once again back into the 2012 Class, it was inevitable that the NCAA would do a thorough investigation into Nelens Noel’s eligibility.  Through in the fact that he committed to Kentucky and it’s like adding gasoline onto an already raging  fire.  The more than capable Anthony Davis replacement for next season has done his part by taking a plethora of Summer courses to qualify academically for the Fall semester but the NCAA announced in late August that they still aren’t done “poking around” his recruitment just yet.  Coach Cal has gone on record that he is positive that Noel will be declared eligible for the start of the season.  He better be if Kentucky has any chance of repeating this season.

  
  

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  Small Forward     6’7     215lbs

  #2 in 2013 Class

  Universally regarded as the best offensive player in the 2013 Class, nearly every Division I program was highly recruiting the player that  many have already anointed as the next Kobe Bryant, even though they knew he may have problems qualifying to play college basketball.  After becoming the cornerstone of coach Howland’s #1 rated recruiting class at UCLA, those fears are becoming reality as the NCAA continues to declare Muhammed ineligible over concerns about his ties to supposed financial advisers that may have paid for AAU and tournament expenses.  Shabazz was not allowed to travel with the Bruins on their preseason trip to China and some even speculate that he may not be cleared at all this season, skipping the NCAA, and declaring for the 2013 NBA Draft.  NCAA Basketball fans would be the losers in that situation.

  
  

September 11, 2012 – Check out 7 star incoming NCAA freshmen that still aren’t fully cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse for the ’12-’13 season…….