Memphis Tigers basketball recruit Will Barton may be ineligible

[La Bomba]

University of Memphis basketball players were informed before Wednesday night’s practice that freshman Will Barton may not be academically eligible this season.

 

Barton, a 6-6 wing who was the star of the Tigers’ recruiting class, will appeal to the NCAA for his eligibility.

 

Barton hinted at trouble earlier Wednesday on his Twitter account, posting: “It don’t get no worse than this. The hardest thing I ever had 2 face is here. Need vision cuz everything blurry now. Where do I go from here?”

 

If he is not cleared to play this season, it is unlikely he will ever see the court for Memphis. Barton would have opportunities to play in Europe or the NBA Developmental League next season before entering the NBA draft next June.

 

Barton, a Baltimore native, changed high schools twice before landing at Brewster Academy last season. College athletes who attend multiple high schools are at high risk to have their academic transcripts red-flagged.

 

The issue with Barton, however, is believed to be about whether he completed high school within the NCAA-mandated eight semesters, graduating from Lake Clifton High in Baltimore last August instead of June.

 

Those two months could cost Barton his college eligibility.

 

If Barton is not eligible for the Tigers, it would be a major blow to coach Josh Pastner’s hopes of returning the program to national prominence in his second season.

 

In that scenario, Memphis would rely even more on freshmen wings Jelan Kendrick and Chris Crawford, neither of whom was expected to start right away.

 

There is no timeline for an NCAA appeals process.

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/aug/04/tigers-recruit-will-barton-may-be-ineligible/

 

This is an old article and now Europe or the D-League are looking very likely for Barton. That's two straight years that Memphis gets screwed over because our best recruit can't read.