After a five month review of his eligibility, the NCAA has decided that Omer Yurtseven will be allowed to play at the collegiate level. Just…not right away.
Yurtseven, a 7-foot-1 freshman who played professionally in his native Turkey, must first serve a nine game suspension and pay a $1,000 fine to the charity of his choosing before being allowed on the court for the Wolfpack. Under the NCAA rules of amateurism, international players are allowed to accept money for playing as long as they are for “actual and necessary expenses associated with practice and competition.”
Yurtseven is expected to be a first-round caliber talent playing the forward position. Playing for an under-18 club, Fenerbahce, Yurtseven is considered one of the the most promising international prospects available.
The fact that he decided to attend college rather than go directly to the NBA has left many upset about his suspension. Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried said he was disappointed by the NCAA’s decision.
ESPN’s Jay Bilas went on to call the decision “ridiculous.”
The suspension means that Yurtseven will miss the first semester worth of games and he is eligible to play again on Dec. 15 against Appalachian State.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
Photo Credit: NC State Athletics, Twitter
