Collin Sexton will become eligible to play after one-game suspension

Alabama Athletic Director, Greg Byrne announced Collin Sexton will become NCAA eligible, after serving a one-game suspension in the Friday game against Memphis.

Alabama basketball fans can now exhale. Freshman phenom Collin Sexton will be playing basketball for the Crimson Tide this season. Alabama basketball opens its regular season Friday in Annapolis against Memphis.

Alabama basketball coach, Avery Johnson had hoped Collin Sexton would be cleared in time for the Memphis game. Sexton traveled with the team to Maryland and took part in practice on Thursday.

Alabama Athletic Director, Greg Byrne released this statement.

"“Collin Sexton will sit out of Friday’s season opener against Memphis to serve a one-game suspension for a violation of NCAA rules,” Tide athletic director Greg Byrne said in a statement. “He will be eligible for competition in the team’s home opener on Tuesday versus Lipscomb. We appreciate the NCAA’s efforts to reach a timely resolution of his eligibility.”"

In an earlier post, we attempted to clarify what has transpired with the FBI probe into college basketball and subsequent NCAA review. As a result of the FBI investigation, ten individuals have been arrested. Former Alabama basketball staffer, Kobie Baker was involved in the FBI-observed activities but he has not been charged with a crime.

Several schools have been implicated in alleged criminal activity through coaches and assistant coaches. The two most prominent cases involve Rick Pitino at Louisville and former Auburn assistant coach Chuck Person. According to the FBI investigation, among other criminal violations, these coaches were involved in paying recruits to play at their schools.

Other schools under scrutiny are Arizona, Oklahoma State, Miami and Georgia Tech. Nothing in the extensive FBI investigation alleges that Collin Sexton or any other Alabama basketball player received any financial incentive to play basketball at Alabama.

The actions that led to Sexton’s one-game suspension are not yet known. It is known that Kobie Baker arranged a meeting for potential future financial advisors to pitch their services to the father of a high-profile, incoming player for the University of Alabama.

The player and his father were not named but other details almost assured the father was Collin Sexton’s Dad. The meeting took place in August, long after Collin Sexton had signed to play for Alabama.

It appears that while Kobie Baker was paid for his facilitation, the Sexton family received no benefits other than a free meal. We believe the cost of that meal was subsequently reimbursed by Mr. Sexton.

Given the reasonably quick NCAA decision and minor punishment, there is no reason to believe Collin Sexton will have future NCAA eligibility issues.

Next: Take a look at the Tide's tough 2017-2018 schedule

The schedule is tough. Without Collin Sexton, the schedule might have been too much. Having him back in the lineup starting Tuesday against Lipscomb is a big relief.