NCAA Suspends Memphis Star James Wiseman 11 Additional Games for Receiving Improper Benefits
By Sam Dunn
Well, NCAA... congratulations?
The rules governing amateurism in college athletics are a shambling farce, so we can't act like we didn't see this coming. But hey, here we are! On Wednesday afternoon, the NCAA ruled that Memphis Tigers phenom and potential 2020 No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick James Wiseman will have to sit out until Jan. 12 after admitting to receiving a loan during his high school days.
Memphis’ James Wiseman cleared to compete Jan. 12: https://t.co/fKa4FKGGeB pic.twitter.com/HaI9h560xS
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) November 20, 2019
Sheesh.
Wiseman is understood to have accepted money from Penny Hardaway -- who became his high school coach and subsequently his college coach -- to help relocate himself and his family to Memphis. He claims that he paid the money back, but the NCAA always demands blood or human sacrifice, don't they? They've also ruled that Wiseman will have to donate $11,500 to "a charity of his choice."
NCAA also says Wiseman "must donate $11,500 to a charity of his choice." Wiseman will be cleared to play on Jan. 12 at South Florida. https://t.co/PCNVC5V44u
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 20, 2019
Where the hell is Wiseman supposed to get the money, huh?
The fact that a kid who took a loan and paid it back somehow has to serve a 12-game ban while Hardaway, the man directly responsible for this improper transaction, receives no punishment is a farce. Amateurism rules are ostensibly meant to preserve the integrity of college athletics and the schools and students that participate in them, but integrity played no part whatsoever in this teeth-gnashing melodrama.