STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men’s basketball freshman Abdul Ado won’t play this season due to a discrepancy in his transcript from Nigeria, MSU coach Ben Howland announced Tuesday.
Ado wasn’t allowed to practice with the team until two weeks ago when MSU filed an appeal on his behalf. Howland said he learned the team’s appeal was denied 15 minutes before he spoke to local media. MSU (1-0) will play Central Florida (1-0) at 4 p.m. Thursday (ESPN2) in the Charleston Classic at TD Arena in Charleston, South Carolina. MSU then will play Boise State or host Charleston on Friday. It will finish the tournament with a game Saturday.
“It’s disappointing for Abdul and disappointing for our team and our players,” Howland said. “He practiced (Monday) and I was discussing with him how he was inspiring his teammates.”
The 6-foot-11, 246-pound Chattanooga, Tennessee, native will be eligible at the beginning of next season and will have four years to play four.
Howland said Ado won’t be allowed to practice with the team until he passes nine hours this semester. MSU’s final exams are Dec. 5-9. Howland expects Ado to pass 15 hours.
“He makes it a lot tougher on his teammates when he’s out there,” Howland said. “He’s physical and he’s tough. It makes our practices more competitive, and we’re going to miss that for the next three weeks and three days.”
Ado helped Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) win back-to-back National Christian Tournament championships as a junior and senior. He averaged 7.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.7 blocked shots as senior. He averaged 9.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.9 blocks as a junior.
“There are good things ahead for Abdul and for this program,” Howland said. “I’m excited about that. I’m just disappointed it won’t be this year.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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