OSU's Jéan-Paul Olukemi granted full-season eligibility
BY KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Thursday, November 01, 2012
11/01/12 at 7:31 AM
On Wednesday, Oklahoma State received the good news it was awaiting.
Senior swingman Jéan-Paul Olukemi was granted a waiver from the NCAA that gives him eligibility for the entire season, the university announced.
If not for his appeal being granted, Olukemi would have concluded his eligibility after the fall semester.
"We would like to thank the NCAA for its due diligence in this matter," coach Travis Ford said. "Looking out for the student-athlete and their best interest should be what's most important, and it certainly showed in this decision."
In high school, Olukemi took bad advice and enrolled in classes at a junior college, starting his eligibility clock.
OSU believed the NCAA, which allows provisions for extenuating circumstances, would grant the appeal as it has done in similar cases.
"Somebody told me to do something I shouldn't have done, but you can't go back in the past and change anything," Olukemi said last week. "You just hope that people understand that you listen to people who are much older than you and they give you the wrong information because they're trying to do something to benefit themselves."
With Brian Williams out for the season with a wrist injury, Olukemi's appeal became even more necessary. He started 11 games last season before tearing an ACL in December and missing all Big 12 play.
Olukemi is still recovering from the injury. He has been practicing but Ford said he likely won't play Thursday night, when the Cowboys have their lone exhibition at home against Ottawa (Kan.).
Center Philip Jurick also will be held out. He is still suspended after drug charges over the summer and not back to 100 percent after his Achilles injury in March, Ford said.
Thursday's exhibition will be the first chance for fans to see freshmen Marcus Smart and Phil Forte, who did not participate in the Homecoming and Hoops scrimmage because of illness.
Smart is expected to be joined in the starting lineup by fellow freshman Kamari Murphy as well as returners Markel Brown, Le'Bryan Nash and Michael Cobbins.
"It gives (the newcomers) more competition with the lights on that they haven't had at this level," Ford said. "It will be good for them to play in here with some people in the stands."
OSU exhibition
Vs. Ottawa (Kan.)
7 p.m. Thursday TV: FSOK-27
Original Print Headline: Olukemi is granted full-year eligibility
Kelly Hines 918-581-8452
kelly.hines@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Olukemi
|
