Baylor men's basketball player Perry Jones III, a freshman forward from Duncanville, lost his appeal today to have his eligiblility reinstated by the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.
Jones, who averaged 13.9 points per game and was a finalist for the Wayman Tisdale Award given to the nation's top freshman player, was ruled ineligible hours before the Bears' opening game at last week's Big 12 post-season tournament.
NCAA officials ruled Jones ineligible because of pre-enrollment violations of amateurism rules dating back to his high school days and involving Jones' long-time AAU coach.
Below is a statement from Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw in response to today's ruling:
"We were informed this afternoon that the Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement denied Baylor’s appeal on behalf of Perry Jones III. Based upon the totality of the circumstances, we continue to believe that Perry Jones III and the Baylor’s men’s basketball team received a disparate outcome in relation to other recent high profile cases. While this decision is final, senior NCAA leaders have agreed to Baylor’s request to meet and discuss concerns that have arisen related to this case. Baylor and Perry have been cooperative, responsive and transparent in working with the NCAA through this process."
_ Jimmy Burch
(Photo: Brendan Sullivan/Special to the S-T)
Sad Bears everywhere:(
Posted by: Mrs. B | March 17, 2011 at 07:00 PM