Former Ohio State basketball recruit Braxton Beverly has been ruled ineligible for the upcoming season at North Carolina State. Beverly was one of the last recruits to sign at the end of the Thad Matta era at Ohio State.
After Matta was fired in early June, Beverly announced his transfer North Carolina State.
After Ohio State released Beverly from his letter of intent, Beverly had hoped to be eligible to play this upcoming season for the Wolfpack.
He never appeared in a game for the Buckeyes, was released from his intent, one could think that this would be doable for a kid who wanted to leave after his coach was fired, right?
Wrong.
The NCAA's decision to rule Beverly ineligible is reportedly stemming from the guard enrolling — and actually attending — a summer class while training at Ohio State in the summer.
From ESPN college basketball reporter Jeff Goodman, who broke the news:
Braxton Beverly was on campus at Ohio State for a brief time. Decided to leave and transfer to NC State after Thad Matta was fired. https://t.co/vAs9KYV5oV
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) October 13, 2017
Essentially, the NCAA is punishing Beverly for actually attending class prior to ever playing in a game for the Buckeyes.
Here is #NCState' Braxton Beverly on the NCAA denying him immediate eligibility & his hope for successful appeal.#wral pic.twitter.com/mZc3vWTjPv
— Marilyn Payne (@marilyn_payne) October 13, 2017
This information comes at the heels of the NCAA ruling not to punish North Carolina for football and basketball athletes taking fake paper classes, not attending classes at all and repeated academic misconduct.
The precedent the NCAA is setting after the ruling is setting a dangerous line above what the NCAA values more — production or education.
Luckily, Beverly's ineligibility will be deemed as a transfer rather as a loss of a year, and he'll have four remaining seasons at NC State.
