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Forward DeShawn Painter gains immediate eligibility at Old Dominion

DeShawn Painter

North Carolina State center DeShawn Painter dunks the ball during practice Thursday, March 22, 2012, in St. Louis. North Carolina State is scheduled to face Kansas in an NCAA tournament Midwest Regional college basketball semifinal game on Friday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

AP

The 2012-13 season will be an interesting one for Blaine Taylor’s Old Dominion program.

In their final season of Colonial Athletic Association play before moving to Conference USA the Monarchs will be ineligible for CAA tournament play.

And with more pressure being placed on the Monarchs to perform in the regular season if they’re to have any shot at an NCAA bid, the NCAA granting NC State transfer DeShawn Painter immediate eligibility is a much-needed boost.

Painter, who has one season of eligibility remaining, transferred in order to be closer to his ailing grandmother.

“This is truly a blessing, I got something off my shoulders. It feels good to be close to home and my family,” said Painter in the school release.

“My grandmother is ill, and she raised me. I feel that this is my duty to be there for her. I am excited to have the opportunity to play right away with my new set of teammates. They are a great bunch of guys and I am looking forward to the upcoming season.”

A 6-9, 230 pound forward from Norfolk, Painter averaged 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game for NC State last season.

The Monarchs have to replace their top two scorers from last season in guard Kent Bazemore and forward Chris Cooper, and while Painter wasn’t a major offensive threat at NC State he’ll definitely help.

At the very least Painter provides Taylor and his staff with another big man who isn’t afraid to bang around in the paint.

Raphielle is also the assistant editor at CollegeHoops.net and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.