By JACOB POLACHECK
N.C. State freshman guard Braxton Beverly played in his first game with the Wolfpack on Tuesday after the NCAA granted a transfer waiver request allowing him to compete immediately.
Beverley, who originally signed to play at Ohio State last November, de-committed from the Buckeyes this past June, but not before he had already begun taking summer classes at OSU. Beverley’s de-commitment was primarily due to the firing of Ohio State head coach Thad Matta and because of the NCAA’s extremely restrictive transfer rules, those classes made Beverly’s signing with NC State, in the eyes of the NCAA, a transfer.
The NCAA was initially going to force him to sit out the season when he transferred to NC State like all standard transfers have to do. Beverly’s initial appeal for a waiver was denied, and he had to miss NC State’s opening two games.
The NCAA released a statement on its official Twitter account, saying, “Based on additional information, NCAA staff reconsidered and granted NC State’s transfer waiver request for Braxton Beverly, allowing him to compete immediately.”
“Like he [Coach Kevin Keatts] said, when he called me, I didn’t believe it at first,” said Beverly on Tuesday in a press release from NC State following their 95-72 victory on Tuesday over Bryant. “I was like, ‘Don’t start playing with me. Don’t get me excited for no reason.’ It was really great to finally get out there and play my first game. Like he said, [I shot] one-for- seven, got the
first game jitters, first college game, but overall, I’m really happy I’m finally out there.”
Beverly played 16 minutes on Tuesday, scoring two points while making 1 of 7 shots. He also finished with two rebounds and an assist.
“I was very excited,” said Beverly on the fan support. “The first two games here, I’ve seen signs and posters and everybody yelling ‘Free Braxton,’ and finally I’m free. I saw a poster that said ‘They finally let him go,’ and it was a great feeling. [I’m] playing for such a great fan base. I’m finally playing in college and have my first game. To have that support, it’s amazing.”
On Tuesday, the NCAA informed N.C. State that it had not only met the threshold that the information was new, but that the denial decision had been reversed to allow Beverly to play immediately.
“His lawyer handled most of that stuff,” Keatts said following the game. “Most of that stuff was behind the scenes and even myself I don’t know. We are just grateful that it happened.”
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