Two VCU freshmen forced to sit out for 2012-13 season

One day after being picked to finish 3rd in the Atlantic 10 conference, and exactly one week before the official start of practice, the NCAA has deemed freshmen Jordan Burgess and freshman Mo Alie-Cox partial qualifiers.

October 5, 2012; 7:21 PM • by Aaron Williams

Jordan Burgess is still eligible to practice throughout the year. Mo Alie-Cox will keep his scholarship, but he will be unable to practice until the next offseason. Both athletes will be eligible to play during the 2013-14 season.

Jordan Burgess, a consensus top-100 recruit and the younger brother of Bradford Burgess would have undoubtedly contributed during his freshman season. At 6-6, 260 lbs with a 7-1 wingspan, Mo Alie-Cox would have brought a much needed physical dimension to the Ram’s front-court. While losing both players is detrimental, Shaka Smart’s fourth team arguably remains his deepest.

“Both Jordan and Mo have begun their academic careers at VCU in an exemplary way,” Head Coach Shaka Smart said. “Each student-athlete’s long term development, on and off the court, remains our primary focus.”

While the loss of Burgess and Alie-Cox is disappointing, the July addition of consensus top-100 player Melvin Johnson will undoubtedly soften the blow. VCU still has a bevy of eager talented shooting guards.

Following the move to the A10, a smooth transition between athletic directors, and the retention of Coach Shaka Smart, this is one of the first set backs for the Rams. On the eve of one of the most anticipated seasons in VCU Basketball history this is disheartening, but the Rams are still in position to win the A10 and go to their third consecutive NCAA tournament.

Excerpts from the NCAA Operating Bylaws:

“A student-athlete who enrolls in a member institution as an entering freshman with no previous full-time college attendance shall meet the following”:

14.3.1.1

English 4 years
Mathematics 3 years
(Three years of mathematics courses at the level of Algebra I or higher). (Computer science courses containing significant programming elements that meet graduation requirements in the area of mathematics
Natural or physical science 2 years (including at least one laboratory course if offered by the high school). (Computer science courses containing significant programming elements that meet graduation requirements in the area of natural or physical science also may be accepted.)
Additional courses in English, mathematics, or natural or physical science 1 year
Social science 2 years
Additional academic courses 4 years
[in any of the above areas or foreign language, philosophy or non doctrinal religion (e.g., comparative religion) courses]