Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

NCAA declares Monmouth freshman guard ineligible

King Rice

Monmouth head coach King Rice shouts to his players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Seton Hall in Newark, N.J., Monday, Nov. 18, 2013. Seton Hall won 82-66. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

AP

In recent years college basketball players who have attended Prime Prep Academy in Dallas have run into resistance when dealing with the NCAA’s Eligibility Center. Emmanuel Mudiay, who’s now playing professionally in China, ran into those issues before ultimately deciding to turn pro instead of attending SMU and both Jordan Mickey (LSU) and Karviar Shepherd (TCU) had to wait a little longer than expected before ultimately being cleared to compete as freshmen in 2013.

Shooting guard Micah Seaborn, who was seen to be a very important recruit for Monmouth head coach King Rice, ran into similar difficulties but his case didn’t result in a conclusion similar to that of Mickey or Shepherd. According to Josh Newman of the Asbury Park Press, Seaborn will not be allowed to either play or practice with the team this season.

It should be noted that he’s still allowed to receive an athletic scholarship from Monmouth, and the school is appealing the NCAA’s decision.

Monmouth was picked to finish sixth in the MAAC’s preseason coaches poll, which was released Wednesday, and four starter return from a team that went 11-21 in its first season as a member of the MAAC. Guards Deon Jones (15.1 ppg) and Andrew Nicholas (14.4 ppg) are the team’s leading returning scorers.

Among the newcomers expected to help the Hawks this season are freshman guard Austin Tilghman and transfers Je’lon Hornbeak (Oklahoma) and Brice Kofane (Providence). The hope was that Seaborn would be part of that group but with Thursday’s news Monmouth will need to continue on without him, unless their appeal is upheld and he’s allowed to play.

Follow @raphiellej