The NCAA ruled that Turkish star Omer Yurtseven must sit the first nine games of N.C. State’s season and pay $1,000 to a charity of his choice.
He will be eligible to return Dec. 22 against McNeese.
The news is a huge development for the Wolfpack, which landed the 7-footer in May when he chose them over Utah and Syracuse. He scored 91 points and grabbed 28 rebounds during a Turkish U-18 basketball game in May and is projected as the No. 21 pick in the 2017 Draft per DraftExpress.com.
“The NCAA conducted a thoughtful analysis of Omer’s situation,” NC State Director of Athletics Debbie Yow said. “Their staff exhibited considerable concern for fairness and for the welfare of this conscientious young man in their decision.”
“I’m disappointed for Omer,” Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried said. “He has been patient and 100 percent forthright. We will adapt and integrate him in as soon as possible.”
Yurtseven’s coach at Fenerbahçe, Zeljko Obradovic, said that the club had paid the player, but Yurtseven declined taking any money.
“I did not touch it,” Yurtseven told Scout.
Here is DraftExpress’ scouting report on him: “A near 7-footer with a promising frame, a polished skill-set and impressive fluidity, the young big man averaged 6 points and pulled down 6 rebounds over 13 minutes per game in NBA preseason games against the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder, looking like a potential future lottery pick in the process. Putting up huge numbers in the 2015 Adidas Next Generation Tournament and averaging 9.8 rebounds per game and 8.7 rebounds per game playing a year up at the U18 European Championship, Yurtseven is considered one of the more intriguing young big men in all of Europe. He lacks great length and has shown inconsistent intensity and toughness at times, but he’s widely considered one of the top-1998 born prospects in the world.”
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
