UO Admissions has a special committee to vet athletes that don’t meet regular UO standards. Lorraine Davis runs (ran?) it. This was a potential conflict of interest, according to UO’s most recent NCAA review. But UO snuck around the rules and kept her in charge. Presumably her committee approved the Brandon Austin transfer, as explained here.
Now it appears that, for the first time in living memory, the “Special Athletics Admits Committee” has refused to admit a basketball player the athletic department wanted. Matt Prehm has the story in 247 sports. As he notes, this is a “huge blow for the Oregon Ducks” (and to Coach Dana Altman’s scuzzy recruiting methods.):
Sources tell DuckTerritory.com three-star power forward Ray Kasongo has been denied admission by University of Oregon admissions, and will now look to play his college basketball elsewhere.
This is a huge blow for the Oregon Ducks who enter next season with only eight scholarship players currently on roster.
Four-star guard JaQuan Lyle has also not been admitted yet at this time.
Is this how Gottfredson is going to chase off Altman without having to buy out his contract – starve him of fresh meat? Andy Greif has more in the Oregonian.
I’m going to give Gottfredson credit for taking charge on this, even if late and small change.
Gott? It’s gotta be Mullens who gets credit.
Kasongo was only a three star recruit. Austin was four. Give Lorraine credit for having *some* standards, even if they’re not academic.