MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia forward Esa Ahmad, for months rumored to be facing an NCAA suspension, is ineligible for the first half of the 2017-18 regular season, the school announced Tuesday.
The 6-foot-7 junior “did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements,” according to a WVU news release. The penalty is consistent with testing positive for a “street drug” during an NCAA-administered test.
Based on the 31-game regular-season schedule, Ahmad would have to sit out 16 games and could return for the Jan. 13 game at Texas Tech.
Ahmad averaged 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds last season for a team that finished 28-9 and lost to Gonzaga 61-58 in the Sweet 16.