The Kentucky Wildcats had a very disappointing end to their 2014 season as they lost to Wisconsin in the Final Four while they were going for a perfect season. Seven of the players from that team entered the NBA Draft meaning John Calipari lost a ton of talent. Like Cal tends to do though he reloaded with the number one recruiting class in the nation and the Wildcats should be a force again this season. Skal Labissiere is the best recruit in this number one class and is expected to be a star but as of right now he reportedly has not been cleared by the NCAA, according to Jeff Goodman and Jeff Borzello of ESPN.
Labissiere was ranked as the number two overall player in the 2015 recruiting class and the top power forward and is a unique talent at 6 foot-11 and 225 pounds. Labissiere's guardian, Gerald Hamilton, said that he has not been cleared yet but they think he will be.
"We're just trying to get everything squared away. They are asking a few questions. They haven't cleared him, but we're sticking with our faith. There's no real concern about anything from the Kentucky compliance people," said Hamilton.
A reason for the lack of clearance was not given but it seems as though it might be because of Labissiere and his guardian Hamilton's relationship. The incoming freshman is originally from Haiti but played his high school basketball in Memphis for Reach Your Dream Prep after being ruled ineligible to play for Lausanne Collegiate.
Labissiere is now the second high profile incoming freshman who has yet to be ruled eligible by the NCAA as Kansas' incoming top five recruit Cheick Diallo is in the same boat. Both Kansas and Kentucky hope to have answers soon as to whether they will have their freshmen for the start of the season but while they haven't been cleared yet they have been able to practice with their teams.
Kentucky opens up their schedule on November 13th when they take on Albany in Lexington and they hope to have Labissiere available for that contest. The Wildcats are loaded with talent and will still rack up their fair share of wins if he wasn't cleared but Labissiere is the most talented player on their roster and he would be a huge loss should the NCAA not clear him.
