Alabama freshman Collin Sexton not yet cleared by NCAA
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama freshman point guard Collin Sexton has yet to be cleared by the NCAA and did not participate in Alabama’s 74-65 exhibition win over Alabama-Huntsville on Monday.
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“The NCAA informed us late this afternoon that Colin Sexton has not had his eligibility reinstated by the NCAA,” Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in a statement released by the university prior to the game. ““We don’t have any further information at this time, but we will continue to cooperate with the NCAA and work toward a resolution that results in Colin’s timely reinstatement.
“While we are disappointed, the right decision was to err on the side of caution for tonight’s exhibition game.”
Sexton came out with the rest of the team during warmups but was not dressed out. He did not partake in pregame warmups or the shootaround.
Alabama is involved in an FBI investigation on the corruption in college basketball. Former Alabama staffer Kobie Baker resigned from his position of associate athletics director in September after Alabama held an internal review of the men’s basketball program.
Alabama’s internal review gave reason to believe that Baker was “Staff Member-1” in a federal complaint released in September which alleges an unnamed staffer was involved in a scheme to accept money in return for steering a “highly regarded incoming freshman basketball player” to sign with a financial adviser after declaring for the NBA draft. The federal complaint also says that financial adviser Rashan Michel arranged a meeting in August at an Atlanta restaurant between himself, the staffer [Baker], a witness cooperating with the FBI and the father of an incoming freshman player. The complaint says the cooperating witness gave Michel $10,000 that was to be given to Baker for arranging the meeting. It was not indicated whether any of the money was given to the player or his family.
While the name of the player’s father was not identified, freshman point guard Collin Sexton is from Mableton, Ga., roughly 20 minutes outside of Atlanta and is the only member of the Crimson Tide’s 2017 class from the state of Georgia.
Following the game, Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson said he does not have any further information but that the program will continue to cooperate with the NCAA and “toward a resolution that results in Collin’s reinstatement.”
“We’re a little disappointed, obviously,” Johnson said. “That’s just a normal feeling and you could see it in our guys’ eyes a little early in the game throughout the first half, but the right decision was to err on the side of caution, especially for tonight’s exhibition game.”
Johnson said he informed Sexton of the situation before the game and said the freshman has handled the whole process in a “first-class manner.”
“Obviously he was a little bit disappointed, but he said ‘OK coach, I’ll go back to my dorm and get some clothes, and I’ll get on the bench and cheer on the guys,” Johnson said. “That’s what type of kid he is because he’s a kid of strong character.”
Sexton led Alabama with 15 points during its 75-67 victory over Baylor during a scrimmage last week. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound point guard was rated as the No. 8 player in the Class of 2017 according to Rivals.com. He is expected by many to be selected as a lottery pick in next year’s NBA draft.
Alabama will open its regular season Friday at 5:30 p.m. when it faces Memphis in Annapolis, Md., as part of the Veterans Classic.
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