Written By: @lessh
Freshman James Wiseman, 18, has left the University of Memphis and is now preparing for the 2020 NBA Draft after being suspended over NCAA violations.
Wiseman was suspended 12 games for two violations: his mother accepting $11,500 from Penny Hardaway in the summer of 2017, and Wiseman playing in three games this season while ineligible.
The suspension stemmed from an NCAA investigation into the 2017 payment to Wiseman’s mother. According to the NCAA, Hardaway’s $1 million donations to the school in 2018 made him a booster, which in turn deemed his previous payment to Wiseman’s mother ”improper benefit.” Although both the school and Wiseman’s lawyers appealed and filed a temporary injunction that allowed Wiseman to play during the investigation, the suspension was upheld, and the school lost the appeal.
Now, seven games into his 12-game suspension, Wiseman has decided to leave school to enter the draft. The decision was announced Thursday Via His Instagram Account.
“Ever since I was a little kid, it’s been a dream of mine to play in the NBA. … This was not how I expected my freshman season to be, but I’m thankful for everyone who has supported my family and me throughout this process,” Wiseman wrote on his account. “I want to thank the coaches and staff for all their support and my teammates for pushing me everyday at practice.
“I feel blessed for the opportunity to be a Tiger and for having the honor to play with these special group of guys. I can’t wait to see what all they accomplish this season. The friends and fans of Tiger Nation will always hold a place in my heart. #GoTigersGo”
