Shabazz Muhammad Ruled Ineligible For Three Exhibition Games in China


UCLA’s highly regarded recruiting class was supposed to return the Bruins to national prominence, but in order to do so, they’ll need their top recruit to get eligible. Incoming UCLA freshman and former SLAM High School Diarist Shabazz Muhammad won’t be joining the Bruins for their pre-season trip to China, as he is currently being investigated for improper benefits. Scout.com reports that the NCAA is continuing to investigate whether Muhammad compromised his amateur status because of connections to two financial advisers: “The NCAA has deemed UCLA’s star incoming freshman, Shabazz Muhammad, ineligible to play in the three exhibition games in China, according to sources. His ineligibility is related to the NCAA investigation of Muhammad allegedly receiving improper benefits in his recruitment from boosters of his AAU program. The NCAA has been investigating the contributions of two individuals to the AAU program, Dream Vision, and whether flights were purchased for some of Muhammad’s recruiting visits. In February, the NCAA warned schools recruiting Muhammad to be wary that the elite prospect was under investigation. According to sources, the NCAA has deemed Muhammad ineligible to participate in the three games in China later this month while the investigation is on-going.”