LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas freshman Cheick Diallo has been cleared to play for the fifth-ranked Jayhawks beginning next week, ending a laborious months-long investigation by the NCAA into the five-star prospect's education and background.
In a statement Wednesday, the NCAA ultimately ruled Diallo had received a limited amount of impermissible benefits. The result is a five-game suspension that includes four games he has already missed and the Maui Invitational title game Wednesday night against No. 19 Vanderbilt.
Diallo, a native of Mali, will be allowed to play Tuesday night against Loyola.
"I really want to thank the NCAA staff for guiding this process to a fair conclusion in what was a very complicated situation," said Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger, who had sharply criticized the handling of the case in a letter to the NCAA earlier this month.