The University of Memphis has declared freshman center and former No.1-overall recruit James Wiseman ineligible after he withdrew his lawsuit against the NCAA on Thursday.
The school will withhold Wiseman from games while it applies for his reinstatement by the NCAA.
A university statement released on Thursday said, “The NCAA is fully aware of the unique nature and challenges in this particular case, and the university is confident that the NCAA will render a fair and equitable decision consistent with its mission.”
Last week, Memphis said the NCAA had declared Wiseman eligible in May, but an investigation revealed that Memphis coach Anfernee Hardaway made a payment to Wiseman’s family in 2017. According to Memphis, Wiseman was unaware of the payment.
The school added that before taking the Memphis job, Hardaway made a $11,500 payment to the Wiseman family while serving as his AAU coach. The family used the funds to move from Nashville to Memphis. Hardaway continued to coach Wiseman at Memphis East High School following the relocation of the Wiseman family. The payment become problematic due to Hardaway qualifying as a booster after gifting $1 million to Memphis in 2008 to build a sports hall of fame.
After being ruled ineligible on Friday, a judge in Shelby County issued a restraining order, which allowed Wiseman to play in the game that night. A statement from the NCAA said, “The University of Memphis was notified that James Wiseman is likely ineligible. The university chose to play him and ultimately is responsible for ensuring its student-athletes are eligible to play.”
Wiseman averaged 19.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in the Tigers’ first three-games of the season.
Memphis is 2-1 and will play Alcorn State at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday afternoon, likely without the services of James Wiseman.