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UCLA files an appeal on Shabazz Muhammad’s eligibility

Indiana State v UCLA

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 09: Ineligble player Shabazz Muhammad of the UCLA Bruins applauds during the game with the Indiana State Sycamores at Pauley Pavilion on November 9, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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Ben Howland announced on Wednesday that UCLA has officially appealed the NCAA’s ruling in regard to Shabazz Muhammad’s eligibility.

The appeal is expected to be heard on Friday, and if the appeals committee sides with the Bruins, Muhammad could become immediately eligible. That, according to the LA Times, could end up happening on Friday as well. Since the season has already begun, the process will be expedited. UCLA will play Georgetown in the Legends Classic in New York on Monday. (I’ll be covering that game, so I’m hoping he gets eligible.)

Muhammad was ruled ineligible by the NCAA just hours before the Bruins kicked off their season against Indiana State last Friday. He was found to have received illegal benefits in order to take unofficial visits to North Carolina and Duke while he was being recruited. The NCAA did not make a final ruling, however, they simply said that Shabazz was not ineligible while they continued their investigation.

The Muhammad family released a statement on Monday that said, among other things, that the NCAA had already approved the payment.