MEMPHIS – The feel-good season for the 14th-ranked University of Memphis men’s basketball program plunged into uncertainty Friday after the school said second-year coach and former NBA star Penny Hardaway gave more than $11,000 to the family of top prospect James Wiseman, who got a court order allowing him to play while the university tries to restore his NCAA eligibility.
Memphis issued an extraordinary statement less than an hour before the Tigers hosted Illinois-Chicago, saying Wiseman was going to be kept out of games based on interpretation of a rule by the NCAA until the temporary restraining order obtained by Wiseman’s attorney Leslie Ballin late Friday afternoon.
“The University is currently working with the NCAA staff to restore his playing status, and we are hopeful for a speedy resolution to the matter,” the statement read.
The 7-foot-1 Wiseman was on the court Friday night for the national anthem and introduced with the starting lineup. The freshman scored 17 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had five blocks in a 92-46 win.
Hardaway declined to take questions on the NCAA and legal matters after the game. The coach also made clear that Wiseman will continue to play, at least until a Nov. 18 hearing, and liked how he handled a roller-coaster day.