UCLA continues to make news related to their top two freshmen talents, Shabazz Muhammad and Kyle Anderson.
On Wednesday, head coach Ben Howland announced that the school had filed an appeal with the NCAA on behalf of Muhammad, who on Friday was declared ineligible for the season.
“This afternoon, UCLA filed an appeal of the violations that were presented last Friday,” Howland said. “That appeal will be heard by the NCAA this Friday, and we hope to have an answer shortly thereafter. We cannot comment any further on the process at this time.”
The 6-foot-6 Muhammad was declared ineligible for accepting improper benefits, including lodging and transportation during several recruiting trips to Duke and North Carolina.
Muhammad’s family on Tuesday blasted the NCAA in a statement initially published in the Los Angeles Times.
Meantime, the 6-9 Anderson out of Jersey City St. Anthony seemingly avoided a major injury to his wrist after diving out of bounds during Tuesday’s 80-79 OT win over UC-Irvine.
Anderson’s injury was first reported by SNY.tv.
The school issued a statement saying Anderson “sustained a bone contusion on his right wrist during the first half of the Bruins’ overtime win against UC Irvine on Tuesday. X-rays taken Wednesday were negative. An MRI taken later in the day indicated a bone contusion. Anderson’s status for Thursday’s contest will be a gametime decision.”
UCLA comes to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Monday for the Legends Classic, which also features No. 1 Indiana, Georgetown and Georgia.
