Maryland freshman Jin Soo Kim was declared eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse on Monday. The 6-foot-8 Kim, a tremendous shooter, can begin practicing with the team on Wednesday.
“The Maryland basketball team is very happy for Jin Soo,” Maryland Coach Gary Williams said.
The NCAA Clearinghouse initially denied Kim’s eligibility, but after receiving additional documentation regarding online correspondence courses Kim took at South Kent (Conn.), the Clearinghouse declared him eligible.
Elsewhere, Louisville got a commitment from Justin Martin, a 6-7 junior wing from Lawrence North in Indianapolis who has never played a varsity game. Martin chose the Cardinals over Cincinnati, Dayton, Miami (Fla.) and Xavier.
Rivals ranked Martin as the No. 38 prospect in the class of 2010 and the No. 8 small forward.
“The way coach [Rick] Pitino coaches and his style of play was a big factor,” Martin told CardinalSports.com. “I like how he prepares his players in academics and life. It’s not all about basketball. He’s a great coach, too, but he treats basketball as a part of your life.”
Finally, 7-foot freshman center Jeff Withey is transferring from Arizona in the wake of Lute Olson’s retirement.
Withey is the third member of Arizona’s freshman class to leave, following Brandon Jennings (Italy) and Emmanuel Negedu (Tennessee). Guard Brendon Lavender is the lone reshman remaining from the original four scholarship players on Arizona’s 12-man roster.
“He just went through a lot with his family,” guard Garland Judkins told the Arizona Daily Star. “A lot of the stuff that happened is family-oriented. We’re just trying to move forward without him, because obviously he won’t be there.”
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(Photos courtesy Maryland athletics and Wildcatscoop.com)
