Dave Glenn of the Sports Journal, formerly known as The Poop Sheet, was nice
enough to send us this explanation of Anthony Richardson's situation. Thanks
Dave! If you don't know it, you can find the the Sports Journal at www.prepstars.com
Thanks Dave!
Contrary to published reports, Florida State basketball signee
Anthony Richardson has not yet qualified for freshman eligibility. However,
there remains a chance that he could play for the Seminoles this year.
Richardson, rated the No. 27 senior in the nation by PrepStars.com
after his senior year at Raleigh (N.C.) Leesville Road, told the ACC Sports
Journal on Wednesday that his status for this fall remains uncertain.
According to information provided by Richardson and his high school
coach, Darryl Robinson, Richardson will fit the NCAA's definition of a
partial qualifier as long as he successfully completes three classes of
summer school.
A prospective student-athlete -- regardless of his core-course GPA
or other academic qualifications -- cannot meet the NCAA's definition of a
full qualifier without attaining an SAT score of 820 or better or a
cumulative ACT score of 68 (average of 17) or better. After exhausting all
of his chances at those tests that would allow him to qualify for fall
enrollment at FSU, Richardson remains short of those numbers.
A prospective student-athlete can become a partial qualifier --
permitted to enroll but NOT participate in games as a freshman -- by
meeting NCAA standards listed on a sliding scale that involves GPAs of
2.525 or higher or an SAT score of 720 (14.75 average ACT) or higher.
Someone with a core-course GPA of 2.525 would need an 810 SAT score (16.75
average ACT) to meet this definition. Someone with a core-course GPA of
2.75 or higher would need a 720 SAT score (14.75 average ACT) or above to
meet this definition. If Richardson successfully completes his final three
classes, he will meet this definition.
But that's not the end of this story. There remains a possibility
that Richardson -- according to some rankings, the top-rated recruit of
coach Steve Robinson's head coaching career -- will be eligible for the
Seminoles this fall even though he fails to meet the NCAA definition of a
full qualifer.
Richardson, who has a learning disability, plans to appeal to the
NCAA as soon as he solidifies his status as a partial qualifier. In similar
situations in recent years, Michigan State's Zach Randolph, Florida's Orien
Greene and others filed appeals with the NCAA and were approved for
first-year competition despite not meeting the definition of a full
qualifier.
Hope that helps.
Thanks to all of your readers for their support.
Sincerely,
Dave Glenn