UPDATED 11/8/2019, 6:26 p.m. ET: Less than an hour after news of his ineligibility broke, Shams Charania reported that Wiseman is once again eligible thanks to a Shelby County court judge's order to put a hold on the NCAA's ruling.
Potential No. 1 NBA pick James Wiseman is now eligible to play for Memphis, pending further legal proceedings, attorney Leslie Ballin tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
See original story below.
Memphis Tigers freshman James Wiseman has been ruled ineligible to play by the NCAA, attorney Leslie Ballin said in a statement on Friday.
Breaking news: High profile Memphis attorney Leslie Ballin says the NCAA has ruled James Wiseman ineligible to play. He says Penny Hardaway helped finance Wiseman and his family’s move to Memphis back in high school. The NCAA has deemed Penny a booster.
The NCAA has ruled Memphis F/C James Wiseman -- the possible No. 1 overall pick in 2020 NBA Draft -- ineligible, his lawyers said in Memphis.
Wiseman was reportedly ruled ineligible because Memphis Tigers coach Penny Hardaway financially helped the player and his family move to the city. Ballin says that NCAA believes Hardaway paid for thousands of dollars in moving expenses while Wiseman was in high school. Wiseman is considered to have a chance of going No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA draft.
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway assisted Wiseman and his family's move to Memphis in 2008, attorney Leslie Ballin said in a news conference --- and the NCAA has deemed Hardaway a booster. https://t.co/ce5WYq2AxS
2018, not 2008. No small detail, I know. https://t.co/gIHFCLueQ8
Hardaway, who's in his second year as Memphis' head coach, also coached Wiseman in his Team Penny/Bluff City Legends grassroots program and in East High School.
Wiseman was quickly showing the NCAA what the hype was about at the season's start. The freshman had 28 points and 11 rebounds during Memphis' 97-64 win over South Carolina State on Tuesday.
This post will be updated.
