Illinois State's Kenyon Smith Ineligible

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State freshman Kenyon Smith failed to meet the NCAA's minimum academic eligibility standards and won't be allowed to play on the Redbird men’s basketball team this season.

“Obviously, we have known about this situation for some time, but we were hopeful that his two appeals would be heard and be ruled in his favor,” said ISU head coach Tim Jankovich.  “The NCAA originally ruled him eligible and later placed one of his marks in question.  I feel badly for Keynon, as he cannot be a member of our team nor on scholarship for at least a year.”

Under NCAA rules, Smith, who is still enrolled at Illinois State, will not be allowed to practice with the team or receive athletic aid during the 2008-09 season, and will lose a year of eligibility. He can regain that lost year of eligibility, however. To do that, the Chicago Simeon High School product must complete 80 percent of his designated degree program by the beginning of his fifth academic year.