NCAA Forcing James Wiseman to Donate Money He's Already Paid Back is Utterly Tasteless

After a little over a week of suspense, the NCAA announced their settlement on the eligibility of Memphis Tigers star freshman James Wiseman.

On Wednesday, the NCAA ruled that the potential No. 1 overall pick in 2020 will be cleared to return to the hardwood on Jan 12., meaning that he will have to miss Memphis' next 11 games.

While that punishment might be viewed as harsh by most pundits and fans, the other term(s) of the NCAA's "compromise" is downright heinous as Wiseman is also required to donate $11,500 to a charity of his choice.

Of course, that $11,500 equates to the quantity of funds that Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway loaned to Wiseman and his family during his high school days to aid their move to Memphis.

The palpable problem here lies in the fact that Wiseman allegedly paid back that loan in full. Where is a supposed amateur athlete, whose entire life revolves around basketball, supposed to come up with that kind of money?

Wiseman isn't permitted to profit off his likeness and won't be obtaining a consistent cash flow until he enters the NBA next June.

Why not punish Hardway, you know, the individual directly responsible for the improper benefit even coming to fruition in the first place? That's easy: because it makes too much sense.

Nobody would have even batted an eye if the sports governing body opted to fine the school itself. Instead, the NCAA is asking for $11,500 out of the pocket of an 18-year-old kid who, for starters, probably didn't know any better at the time, and only accepted the loan to further ignite his basketball career.

This is yet another example that confirms the NCAA is a complete joke.