Texas A&M freshman Shawn Smith has been ruled a partial qualifier by the NCAA, Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com is reporting.
The ruling means that Smith will be able to practice but not play for the Aggies this season.
Smith, a 6-4, 180-pound guard from Jacksonville, Fla., was at one time or another committed to Missouri and Central Florida before choosing the Aggies. He is part of a five-man 2012 recruiting class for head coach Billy Kennedy.
Now without Smith, Texas A&M will look to newcomers J-Mychal Reese, Alex Caruso, Fabyon Harris, and Andrew Young for production.
Kennedy and the Aggies will be without second-leading scorer Khris Middleton, who has turned pro, which puts more on the shoulders of Elston Turner, who averaged 13.6 points per game last season.
The 2012-13 season also marks the first for Texas A&M in the SEC, having moved from the Big 12 in the offseason. The Aggies were chosen to finish fifth in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll.
Texas A&M begins its season on Nov. 9 against Louisiana Tech.
Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_