Player academics

The academic status of various players in the WAC has been in the news of late but the focus of this post is Fresno State.

Coach Steve Cleveland just announced that Bryan Harvey, a transfer from Louisville, is academically ineligible for the spring semester -- a situation that certainly impairs the Bulldogs chances of making a move up in the WAC and being one of the teams challenging for the top spot.

Earlier this season, Kentucky transfer Rekalin Sims was also suspended due to a less-than-attentive approach to his schoolwork. Sims eventually was dropped from the team over a legal matter.

Freshman center Brandon Webster missed time earlier when he wasn't hitting the books as much as he needed.

In June 2007, it was announced that Kevin Galloway was leaving the Fresno State program due to academics. He was a transfer from USC and is now at the College of Southern Idaho.

We are always on the lookout for patterns and such and, while unsure if the classroom woes at FSU qualify, three of the players who have fallen short with their academics are transfers from other four year Division One programs.

What is really curious is that these young men apparently performed adequately in the classroom while sitting out the mandated season as a transfer but tailed off soon thereafter. One would think finally getting back on the court would be an even greater incentive and one to hold on to than the promise of eventually being able to play.