Eligibility issues galore

Earlier today, we talked about Will Barton and the fact that the NCAA had ruled him academically ineligible.

It was obvious that Barton had the option of turning pro, heading either overseas or to the NBDL to play his craft and try to play his way into the 2011 NBA Draft.

What we didn't quite understand was what would happen if Barton had decided on attending Memphis. Assuming his appeal is denied, what would he need to do to get eligible? Would he even be able enroll in college classes? Well, Jeff Goodman answered that for us:

If [his] appeal is denied, Barton – according to a source – can still receive aid in the fall and as long as he passes 12 hours of classes in the first semester, he would be able to practice with the team in the second semester.

Then, as long as Barton is in good academic standing, Barton would be able to play next year for Josh Pastner and the Tigers.

So there you have it. If Barton still wishes to go to college, he will be able to. Granted, sitting out a year is nowhere near an ideal situation for the young man, but if he feels that he is not yet ready to be a professional he has options.

He will have a full year with not much else to do but hit the books and get eligible. Seeing Will Barton in a Memphis jersey is still a possibility.

In other news, Josh Selby, like Barton a Baltimore native, has not yet been cleared by the NCAA due to amateurism issues.

According to sources, the NCAA is looking into, among other things, a relationship between Selby and Robert Frazier, the business manager for NBA star Carmelo Anthony.

More commonly known in basketball circles as "Bay," Frazier is, like Selby and Anthony, a Baltimore native. He acknowledged to the New York Times in April that he served as an "advisor" to Selby and his mother, Maeshon Witherspoon, throughout the recruiting process.

Selby and Barton played together on Baltimore's Lake Clifton high school team in 2008-2009.

When you factor in Enes Kanter's ongoing eligibility issues at Kentucky, three of the top 15 freshmen in the country could very well be ineligible this season.