By Jon Alba
Quinnipiac men’s basketball has suffered a loss just weeks away from the start of the 2014-2015 season, as guard Giovanni McLean will be unable to start the season as a member of the team.
Lee Huggins of The Journal News reported late Monday afternoon the NCAA is in the midst of a review of the junior’s transcript from Westchester Community College. While he is under review, he is unable to play or practice with the squad.
Quinnipiac University Associate Vice President for Public Relations John Morgan provided the following statement to Q30 Sports:
“The NCAA has issued a temporary waiver allowing Giovanni McLean to continue his studies at the university for the remainder of the fall semester,” said Lynn Bushnell, vice president for public affairs. “He is, however, prohibited from playing and practicing with the basketball team until the NCAA issues a final decision.”
It was reported Friday the university was in the process of evaluating McLean’s transcript after players from Florida A&M and St. John’s were ruled academically ineligible due to transcript fraud. The players were former Westchester Community College stars, where assistant coach Richard Fields forged transcripts and signatures to help them play at the Division I level. He was later fired, and the school is currently under investigation for the manner.
Sources told Q30 Sports last week it was likely McLean would be unable to play to start the season. It is possible McLean had no knowledge of the fraud while it occurred, as Quinnipiac’s own student-athlete handbook declares knowledgable involvement as “unethical.”
As noted in the university statement, he will be able to remain at the school as a student while the NCAA reviews the matter. It would be conceivable, should he get clearance from the NCAA down the line, he be declared eligible and be allowed to rejoin the team at some point this season or next year. Huggins says he will be able to stay at the school through the fall semester.
The last day of final exams in the fall semester, as per the Quinnipiac University academic calendar, is Dec. 13. Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play begins Dec. 5 for Quinnipiac, a game against Siena.
Four players have now been ruled ineligible due to the scandal. The New York state Inspector General’s Office is reviewing transcripts from the last three to five years of WCC players.
McLean had planned to attend the University of Oklahoma, but did not complete the amount of semesters necessary to play for a Big 12 school. He had been slated to be a key component for the Bobcats in MAAC play, often dominated by quality guards.
