Villanova’s Omari Spellman to Spend Year as Academic Redshirt

Villanova’s prized freshman Omari Spellman will not be eligible during the 2016-17 basketball season and will spend the year as an academic redshirt, the school announced Friday.

The 6-foot-9 big man still has four years of eligiblity remaining.

A news conference, featuring Villanova Director of Athletics Mark Jackson and head coach Jay Wright will be held later today.

“We are extremely disappointed for Omari,” Wright said. “While we don’t agree with the NCAA’s decision, we are members of the association and respect it. We understand why the NCAA felt it had to rule this way.

 “We will make a positive out of this for Omari. He will concentrate on his academics and individual development this season. In the long run Omari will be a better student and player for this experience.”

Per NCAA initial eligibility bylaws, a prospective student-athlete must complete their initial eligibility requirements not later than the high school graduation date of his or her class. Despite graduating from high school in 2016 and presenting the same academic qualifications as an NCAA qualifier, the NCAA determined Omari’s status to be an Academic Redshirt.

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