SB Nation Los Angeles - UCLA Basketball: Shabazz Muhammad ruled ineligible by NCAAhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48949/la-fave.png2012-11-13T05:02:30-08:00http://losangeles.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30136942012-11-13T05:02:30-08:002012-11-13T05:02:30-08:00UCLA's Muhammad Expected To Sit Out Another Week
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<figcaption>With his hipster glasses, Shabazz Muhammad fits right in to the LA scene | Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>As his status with the NCAA hangs in limbo, highly touted UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad must sit out of all games until a decision is reached.</p> <p>UCLA freshman <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/177241/shabazz-muhammad" class="sbn-auto-link">Shabazz Muhammad</a> is one of the most anticipated arrivals in college basketball. Unfortunately, Bruin fans will have to wait, at the very least another week before the guard hits the court. The NCAA is continuing to investigate allegations of the suspended Muhammad receiving improper benefits.</p>
<p>While in high school, Muhammad took unofficial recruiting trips to Duke and North Carolina <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-1110-ucla-indiana-state-20121110,0,1440434.story">on the dime of financial advisor Benjamin Lincoln</a>. Lincoln is claimed to be a family friend, and therefore, would not be violating the NCAA's policy on receiving benefits. To muddy the waters, it just so happens that Lincoln's brother, Geoff, is an assistant coach on Shabazz's Las Vegas-based high school team.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-shabazz-ucla-ncaa-20121112,0,3194102.story">According to UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guererro</a>, the NCAA determined the relationship between Benjamin Lincoln and the Muhammad famiy, "Would not have allowed ... the family to receive the benefits that they got." Should the NCAA rule against the player, he would be required to pay back the money used to finance the trip and sit out 30 percent of UCLA's season.</p>
<p>Muhammad missed the season opener against Indiana State on Friday and will sit out of upcoming games against UC Irvine and James Madison. A final decision on Shabazz's case could arrive as early as this week.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/2012/11/13/3639262/shabazz-muhammad-suspension-ucla-basketballJen Neale2012-11-09T19:42:55-08:002012-11-09T19:42:55-08:00Muhammad ruled ineligible, NCAA releases statement
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>The Bruins learned on Friday night that star freshman Shabazz Muhammad was not eligible to play. No timetable or date has been set for his return.</p> <p>After months of investigations from the NCAA, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> learned just hours before their season opener that heralded freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/177241/shabazz-muhammad">Shabazz Muhammad</a> would not be eligible to play. The NCAA did not announce how many games the 6'6 wing would miss, although it seems like a safe bet that he will not be playing in Westwood anytime in the near future.</p>
<p>The NCAA has released a statement on their ruling. You can find it in full <a href="https://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/resources/latest+news/2012/november/NCAA+statement+on+UCLA+student-athlete+Shabazz+Muhammad" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
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<p>"UCLA student-athlete Shabazz Muhammad is not eligible to compete in tonight's game due to violations of NCAA amateurism rules. In addition to other pending issues, Muhammad accepted travel and lodging during three unofficial visits to two NCAA member schools."</p>
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<p>The two visits in question were to Duke and North Carolina.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://ucla.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1434082">UCLA released a statement</a> of their own on Friday night. Here is part of what Athletic Director Dan Guerrero wrote.</p>
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<p>"The University and our compliance staff have fully cooperated with the NCAA throughout this entire period, and we believe the decision is incorrect and unjust to Shabazz. UCLA will expeditiously pursue its options to challenge this determination. When a final resolution has been reached by the NCAA, we will swiftly communicate the news to the entire Bruin family."</p>
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<p>The Bruins are expected to appeal the ruling.</p>
<p>It remains to be seen how much time Muhammad ends up missing. UCLA begins the year with high expectations, although those will be lowered substantially if the nation's No. 2 prospect is unable to play for an extended period.</p>
<p>The Bruins open their season on Friday night against Indiana State.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/11/9/3625708/shabazz-muhammad-ineligible-ucla-ncaa-statementScott Coleman2012-11-09T19:06:38-08:002012-11-09T19:06:38-08:00UCLA G Shabazz Muhammad ruled ineligible by NCAA
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>The Bruins' star freshman will not be able to play as the NCAA ruled him ineligible because of amateurism violations.</p> <p>The NCAA has ruled UCLA freshman <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/177241/shabazz-muhammad">Shabazz Muhammad</a> ineligible the Bruins learned on Friday.</p>
<p>Muhammad has been under investigation by the NCAA for connections between his family and a financial planner that gave money to Muhammad's summer team in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>In a statement, UCLA said they were <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/267094086744424448" target="_blank">extremely disappointed of the NCAA's decision</a> and said that they <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/267093936160526336" target="_blank">plan to appeal the decision</a>.</p>
<p>Muhammad was rated as one of the top high school players coming into college basketball this season and was the crown jewel of Ben Howland's recruiting class. He is also one of the big reasons that UCLA opened the season ranked No. 13 in both major polls. Both him and fellow incoming freshman Kyle Anderson were under NCAA scrutiny most of the summer and fall. Anderson was just recently cleared to play last week.</p>
<p>The silver lining for the Bruins is that the <a href="https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/267090545057353730" target="_blank">NCAA hasn't revealed</a> if Muhammad is completely ineligible or still will be able to play some games this year.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/usc-trojans/2012/11/9/3625548/ucla-guard-shabazz-muhammad-ruled-ineligible-by-ncaaPeter Woodburn2012-10-25T17:44:07-07:002012-10-25T17:44:07-07:00UCLA guard Shabazz Muhammad won't need surgery
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>UCLA wing Shabazz Muhammad will not need surgery, but he will have to sit out a couple of weeks before being able to take the court for the Bruins.</p> <p>UCLA freshman guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/177241/shabazz-muhammad" class="sbn-auto-link">Shabazz Muhammad</a> injured his right shoulder in a Wednesday practice, but it looks like it's not too serious.<a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/20685860/muhammads-shoulder-injury-will-not-require-surgery" target="_blank"> Bruins head coach Ben Howland indicated to CBS Sports</a> that his guard will be sidelined for the next two weeks and possibly up to four, but the good news is that there will be no surgery necessary. <a href="http://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/261617300531187712" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/261617300531187712" target="_blank">Howland emphasized that it would at least be a couple of weeks</a> before Muhammad would be ready to play. UCLA's season starts on Nov. 13 when the Bruins take on UC Irvine. If the four-week timetable is true, Muhammad could miss as many as four games. The current reports indicate the injury is<a href="https://twitter.com/TheCoolSub/status/261624683655479296" target="_blank"> a shoulder strain</a>.</p>
<p>Muhammad is considered by many to be the top freshman for the 2012-13 college basketball season and a potential lottery pick candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft. The slasher from Las Vegas was the jewel of UCLA's top-five recruiting class. The NCAA is investigating whether he is eligible to play, and Howland has yet to clear him.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/10/25/3556500/shabazz-muhammad-injury-ucla-no-surgeryAvinash Kunnath2012-10-24T17:46:45-07:002012-10-24T17:46:45-07:00Shabazz Muhammad hurts shoulder, awaits MRI result
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Bruins' prized recruit will determine the next steps toward recovery pending an MRI.</p> <p>UCLA freshman guard and top recruit <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/177241/shabazz-muhammad">Shabazz Muhammad</a> has suffered an apparent shoulder injury and is awaiting MRI results, according to <a href="http://twitter.com/cfosterlatimes/status/261256093370576896" target="_blank">Bruins beat writer Chris Foster of the LA Times.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/cfosterlatimes/status/261256093370576896" target="_blank"></a>The injury was suffered during Wednesday's practice and was said by team officials to be to his right shoulder. The guard underwent an MRI and is awaiting results, which should be made available by Thursday.</p>
<p>Considered one of the top two freshmen in the nation, Muhammad is a 6'6 slasher out of Las Vegas and is part of a group widely regarded as one of the top recruiting classes in college basketball for the Bruins. He's currently under investigation as the NCAA is looking into his eligibility, and he has not been cleared to play for head coach Ben Howland.</p>
<p>Further details of the injury were not immediately made available by team officials, and the results of the MRI will be made available as it comes out on Thursday.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/10/24/3551300/shabazz-muhammad-injury-ucla-shoulder-mriMichael Jones2012-10-22T19:27:14-07:002012-10-22T19:27:14-07:00Muhammad still has no idea where NCAA stands
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Two of UCLA's lauded class of freshmen still have no idea where their NCAA investigations stand.</p> <p>The situation involving the eligibility of incoming <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/ucla-bruins" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a> freshmen <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145258/kyle-anderson" class="sbn-auto-link">Kyle Anderson</a> and Shabazz Muhammad doesn't seem like it will have a resolution any time in the near future.</p>
<p>The Bruins are in their second full week of practice, but neither player has any idea where the NCAA investigation stands or when a decision might be made, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-ucla-shabazz-anderson-20121022,0,1848794.story">the LA Times reported on Monday</a>.</p>
<p>Muhammad is being investigated for his relationship with a financial planner that gave money to Muhammad's summer team in Las Vegas. Anderson's investigation is reportedly centered around a relationship between his father and NBA agent Thad Foucher.</p>
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<p>"We have attempted to answer any question, provide any documentation that we can, but one of the problems is not knowing specifically any real issue or question that the NCAA has," said Robert Orr, the attorney representing Muhammad.</p>
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<p>Kyle Anderson Sr. met Foucher over a decade ago in 1999 -- which would put Anderson at five years old. People following the two separate cases sense that the Anderson issue will be resolved sooner than Muhammad's.</p>
<p>Per NCAA rules, both players can practice for about 35 more days with the team. If a decision hasn't been reached by then, they must halt all team activities.</p>
<p>Muhammad and Anderson are two of the centerpieces in UCLA's highly rated incoming class of freshman. The Bruins are No. 13 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, largely off the promise of their phenom freshmen.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/10/22/3541458/shabazz-muhammad-kyle-anderson-ncaa-investigation-ucla-bruinsPeter Woodburn2012-10-11T07:09:30-07:002012-10-11T07:09:30-07:00UCLA waiting for NCAA decision on prized recruits
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire</figcaption>
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<p>With official practices starting on Friday and the start of the season less than a month away, the UCLA Bruins are still awaiting an NCAA decision on two members of their decorated recruiting class.</p> <p>With the start of their season less than a month away, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/ucla-bruins" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a> men's basketball team finds themselves still waiting for a decision from the NCAA on the fate of prized recruits Shabazz Muhammad and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145258/kyle-anderson" class="sbn-auto-link">Kyle Anderson</a>.</p>
<p>Muhammad, who is the centerpiece of a decorated recruiting class, is under investigation for dealings between his family and financial advisors who allegedly paid for two of his unofficial visits and helped fund his AAU team. Anderson is being investigated by the NCAA for potential basketball recruiting violations.</p>
<p>Bruins head coach Ben Howland can't talk about the matter, but he's optimistic that it'll get sorted out.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.foxsportswest.com/10/10/12/UCLA-mum-on-status-of-Anderson-Muhammad/landing_ucla.html?blockID=802985&feedID=3707">Via Fox Sports West</a>:</p>
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<p>"I'm just not going to comment on anything having to do with the ongoing investigation. It's inappropriate. It's not fair to the players. It's just a matter of their confidentiality and the respect to the process.<br><br>"We're moving forward and I'm very hopeful. I'm very optimistic everything's going to work out and just waiting for the process to unfold and take place."</p>
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<p>Both players have practiced with the team -- and will do so for the season's first official practice on Friday -- but it's unlikely that either will be in uniform for the Bruins when the team opens its season on Nov. 9 against Indiana State at the new Pauley Pavilion.</p>
https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/10/11/3488282/shabazz-muhammad-kyle-anderson-ucla-basketball-ncaa-eligibilityRiley Breckenridge2012-09-04T06:00:50-07:002012-09-04T06:00:50-07:00UCLA Basketball: AD Dan Guerrero Responds To Reported NCAA Investigation
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> have a big issue to deal with regarding figuring out the recruitment of Shabazz Muhammad and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/145258/kyle-anderson">Kyle Anderson</a>. Supposed dealings in their recruitment could make them ineligible to be amateur athletes, stripping them of the chance to ever play UCLA basketball.</p>
<p>UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero had this remark about Muhammad and Anderson's recruitment, stating that while he could not publicly comment on the situation and name names that could be under investigation, he did acknowledge that two student-athletes are still waiting to receive word on their amateur status. <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/ncb/story/_/id/8334544/ucla-bruins-waiting-har-ncaa-amateur-status-two-players">Peter Yoon of ESPN Los Angeles files this report</a>.</p>
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<p>"Recently, there have been misleading and inaccurate public reports regarding the initial-eligibility certification of our men's basketball team's incoming class," Guerrero's statement said. "Currently, there are two men's basketball student-athletes who have not yet received final amateurism certification from the NCAA."</p>
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<p>With Tony Parker cleared, that leaves Anderson and Muhammad (which is what sources in the program appear to have confirmed). Muhammad has yet to play or practice with the Bruins, but Anderson did accompany and participate with UCLA in their exhibition trip to China. The certification or rejection of these two players regarding their amateur status could severely cripple UCLA's ability to contend this season.</p>
<p><i><b>Talk about UCLA basketball recruiting with Bruins fans<a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com"> over at Bruins Nation</a>. Check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball">SB Nation college basketball hub</a> to get more comprehensive hoops coverage. </b></i></p>
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https://losangeles.sbnation.com/ucla-bruins/2012/9/4/3290638/ucla-bruins-shabazz-muhammad-kyle-anderson-dan-guerreroAvinash Kunnath