Kansas Basketball: Is Cheick Diallo News Coming Soon

Kansas Basketball continues to wait any sort of ruling on freshman Cheick Diallo.

There’s been no news from the NCAA regarding Kansas basketball five-star recruit Cheick Diallo, and without a decision in the next 48 hours,

it’s set to drag on into early October. Here’s the latest speculation and opinion from around the web:

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Pittsburgh freshman Damon Wilson, Diallo’s teammate at Our Savior New American School in New York, was academically cleared by the NCAA a few weeks ago, according to ESPN‘s Jeff Goodman:

Pittsburgh freshman Damon Wilson has been academically cleared, sources told ESPN. Spent the past two years at Our Savior New American.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) September 10, 2015

Although, there’s apparently still some other issues in Wilson’s case that need to be sorted out, according to a report from SNY.tv:

"“He still has some hurdles, they haven’t totally cleared him,” the source said."

The Kansas City Star‘s Rustin Dodd said that KU’s head coach won’t have much to add to the discussion until he learns more:

"At the moment, Bill Self has said he will stop commenting on the matter until it is resolved. That’s perhaps not the best news for KU, but then again, I wouldn’t read too much into it."

It’s worth noting that Diallo has been cleared by the University of Kansas, allowing him to enroll in classes for this fall semester. The hold up is with the NCAA Eligibility Center as it does its due diligence and prepares a decision.

Jay Bilas, ESPN basketball analyst, feels Diallo should be cleared, via his Twitter:

Cheick Diallo was admitted by KU, completed 6 credit hours at KU: http://t.co/jiLk2mlHWn No legit reason for NCAA to deny his clearance.
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) September 1, 2015

Diallo is a game-changer for the 2015-2016 Kansas Jayhawks basketball team. Rivals.com ranks him at the number five recruit in the nation; they list him at 6′ 9″, 220 pounds.

ESPN‘s college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla thinks an eligible Diallo puts Kansas right in the National Champion conversation:

In the hunt. RT @sammyk34: @franfraschilla National title possible if Diallo is eligible?
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) September 22, 2015

Fraschilla isn’t exactly going out on a limb, as Kansas returns seniors Perry Ellis and Jamari Traylor, juniors Frank Mason and Wayne Selden, sophomores Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and the rest of last year’s team minus Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre Jr.

In reality, Kansas is in the hunt with or without Diallo.

Not sure if this holds any weight, but ESPN analyst Dick Vitale recently tweeted that Diallo should be able to play, encouraging the NCAA to make the decision:

Should be eligible / come on @NCAA do what is right : @CoachBillSelf http://t.co/rhts81wbs6
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) September 3, 2015

Vitale didn’t elaborate on why he thought Diallo should be eligible.

If you missed what Self told KUSports.com about Diallo’s basketball ability earlier this offseason, it’s pretty impressive stuff from the head coach:

"“We’ve never had a big guy that could run like this,” Self said. “It’d be nice to have a mindset to play at a much faster tempo than we have in the past … Cheick forces a pace that nobody has ever forced here. He can create pace better than any point guard we’ve ever had here. Just because the dude from rim to rim is as good as I’ve seen. I didn’t say the best offensive player, but running rim to rim I think he’ll drag everybody along with him."

For what it’s worth, back in 2011, the NCAA handed down a decision on the eligibility of Traylor and former Kansas basketball player Ben McLemore on October 14.

Expect some news soon, but it’s impossible to say exactly when.

Next: KU Basketball: Can The Jayhawks Win It All In 2015-2016?

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