UCLA has two options in Shabazz Muhammad case

UCLA has two options to consider in trying to help freshman basketball star Shabazz Muhammad gain his eligibility.

The school and NCAA enforcement agreed on the facts on the case, and therefore it was determined by the NCAA that he couldn’t play in UCLA’s opener against Indiana State on Saturday night, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who spoke anonymously because the case is ongoing.

The options now are these:

1) UCLA, even though it has accepted the facts of the case, could disagree that a violation occurred and appeal. The case then would go to an NCAA appeals committee. If the committee sided with UCLA, Muhammad would probably become eligible immediately.

But if it ruled that a violation did occur, the appeal would be denied and Muhammad would have to go through a reinstatement process to regain his eligibility.

2) UCLA could accept that there was a violation and go immediately to reinstatement process.

Both the appeals and reinstatement processes would be expedited, the person said, because the season is now underway.

In a statement released Friday evening, less than two hours before the No. 13 Bruins were to open their season in a newly renovated Pauley Pavilion, the NCAA announced that Muhammad was ineligible “due to violations of NCAA amateurism rules.”

“In addition to other pending issues,” the NCAA noted, “Muhammad accepted travel and lodging during three unofficial visits to two NCAA member schools.”

Those trips were to Duke and North Carolina.

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