Northern Arizona took a hit to its starting lineup this week as junior point guard Jalani Neely will be out for the rest of the season after being ruled academically ineligible. The news of Neely’s eligibility was reported by Cody Bashore of the Arizona Daily Sun.
A junior college transfer from Eastern Utah, Neely ran point for the Lumberjacks and appeared in 12 games in 2014-15, averaging 7.9 points, 2.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. Neely only shot 30 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range, but his arrival allowed sophomore guard Kris Yanku to play more off the ball. Neely last appeared in the Dec. 21 game against Hampton.
Neely played his high school ball at powerhouse Simeon in Chicago and was a high school teammate of Jabari Parker, helping the Wolverines win multiple Illinois Class 4A state championships.
Without Neely in the lineup, Yanku will likely slide to the point and senior Aaseem Dixon will be counted on to step up more as well.
The Lumberjacks currently sit at 6-9 (1-1 Big Sky) on the season as they defeated Portland State on Saturday.