Kentucky fans are breathing easier tonight.
According to Lexington television station WLEX-18, the NCAA has cleared Kentucky’s insanely talented point guard (and pretty good dancer) John Wall to play, provided that a couple of conditions are met — namely, the repayment of travel expenses and the sitting of Wall for two games. The games are UK’s exhibition this Monday night against Campbellsville and the November 13th regular season opener against Morehead State. This all stems from Wall having played AAU basketball under coach Brian Clifton, who, even though he was not acting as one, was a certified agent at the time. The expenses, totalling $787.58, are evidently related to costs in making unofficial visits to various schools.
We sort of figured that even if anything came from this at all that it wouldn’t be much, and that’s pretty much what has happened. No word on whether or not the eligibility of any other player from that AAU squad has been adjusted. In the report from Lex18.com, to his credit, Wall’s first offering of gratitude went to his mother, for whom Wall claims the wait for a final ruling has been particularly difficult; head coach John Calipari added, “John Wall is a great kid who always tries to do the right thing and his mother is a great lady. I’m just happy this is behind us.”