The NCAA has found itself immersed in controversy as of late. With the FBI bribery and corruption scandal looming over college basketball, some fans find it difficult to get excited about the upcoming season. Fans of the N.C. State Wolfpack now know that same feeling. The NCAA ruled Monday that freshman guard Braxton Beverly will be ineligible to play in the 2017-18 season. Why? Because he decided to get a head start on his education.
Beverly originally signed with the Ohio State Buckeyes, and enrolled in summer classes. However, he had a change of heart when the administration decided to show then head coach Thad Matta the door. Instead of playing under a coach that didn’t recruit him, the young guard elected to continue his career in Raleigh, North Carolina.
There he would reunite with his high school coach, A.W. Hamilton, who is an assistant on N.C. State Coach Kevin Keatts staff. He was then granted his release from Ohio State by new coach Chris Holtmann.
Beverly was classified as an undergraduate transfer, because he enrolled in classes at Ohio State. In order to play immediately for his new team, Beverly would need a waiver from the NCAA. It denied him that waiver on Oct. 13. Following up with an appeal, the NCAA reinforced its original ruling. This has caused many to question the organization’s motive. Why punish a young man for pursuing an education? The same education the NCAA speaks so highly of in its core values.
Beverly’s head coach, Keatts, did not hold back when asked about the injustice his player is being dealt:
“Disappointed would be an understatement for how I feel for Braxton, he’s devastated,” Keats said, via The Charlotte Observer. “This is a situation where adults failed a young man and he’s the one paying the price.”
It will be interesting to see if the NCAA’s ruling holds. If it does, Beverly will still retain all four years of his eligibility. Many fans are petitioning for the ruling to be overturned, and the association is under a lot of scrutiny from some of the biggest names in basketball.
I feel for Braxton Beverly.He was committed to getting an early start on his EDUCATION! @OhioStAthletics supported his appeal. This is wrong
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) October 31, 2017
.@NCAA FAILS to use common sense/BRAXTON BEVERLY should be eligible /deserves a waiver/ help kids don’t hurt them!https://t.co/VbA082sHT6
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) October 30, 2017
NCAA has denied Braxton Beverly’s appeal for immediate eligibility. Seriously. How about some actual common sense at that place.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) October 30, 2017
NCAA continues to make indefensible decisions. NC State’s Braxton Beverly’s appeal was denied by NCAA. Unconscionable. Wrong. Embarrassing.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) October 30, 2017
Beverly was rated a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports. Known for his perimeter shooting, he averaged 20.3 points and 7.1 points in his last to seasons at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.). He also set a Hargrave record with 70 points in a single game. He could be a valuable asset to this Wolfpack team, but may have to wait until the 2018-19 season to prove himself.