The NCAA declared Kansas forward Silvio De Sousa ineligible for the rest of this season and next season late Friday, dealing a significant blow to a team that began the season with national title hopes.
De Sousa’s name surfaced last summer in an FBI probe into corruption in college basketball centered on officials linked to apparel company Adidas. The NCAA found that De Sousa’s guardian, Fenny Falmagne, had received a $2,500 payment from a “university booster and agent” and agreed to an additional $20,000 payment from the same individual and an Adidas employee for securing his commitment to Kansas.
The school, which has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the case, indicated in a statement late Friday that it would appeal the ruling.
Kansas Coach Bill Self released a statement about the suspension:
In my 30-plus years of coaching college basketball, I have never witnessed such a mean-spirited and vindictive punishment against a young man who did nothing wrong. To take away his opportunity to play college basketball is shameful and a failure of the NCAA. Silvio is a tremendous young man who absolutely deserves to be on the court with his teammates. This process took way too long to address these issues. We will support Silvio as he considers his options.”
The Jayhawks host Texas Tech this afternoon with tip-off at 3pm. Coverage on KVOE 1400AM/96.9FM begins at 1:30p.
Kansas State is at Oklahoma State. Tip-off is set for 5pm. Coverage on COUNTRY 101.7 begins at 4pm.
Wichita State hosts Tulsa with tip-off at 1pm at Koch Arena.
