The SMU Mustangs continue to be undefeated and ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll, and they continue to have people questioning "what if" because they are not eligible for postseason play. Many observers believe SMU would have been the favorites in the AAC and would have had a chance at a Final Four run this season, but none of that is possible. Although the Mustangs still have seniors who want to leave on a good note, they are thinking about the future, and Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye is part of that future. Ojeleye transferred from Duke last season and is eligible to play for the Mustangs now, but he will reportedly redshirt, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Ojeleye spent two years at Duke where he was buried on the depth chart, so he only appeared in 23 games while averaging just 6.2 minutes per game. Last season Ojeleye played in six games before deciding to transfer, but he only shot 28 percent from the field in that time.
Ojeleye is a huge part of SMU's future, as he will have two years of eligibility remaining after redshirting, and the Mustangs will be losing Markus Kennedy, Jordan Tolbert and Nic Moore after this season. A reason for Ojeleye's decision to redshirt has not been given, but it is fair to assume that the fact that SMU is ineligible for the postseason has something to do with it. Redshirting Ojeleye guarantees he has two full years with the Mustangs where he will be able to compete in postseason tournaments.
Ojeleye, a 6-foot-7 forward out from Ottawa, Kan., was a highly recruited player out of high school. Ojeleye was a four-star prospect ranked in the top 30 in the 2014 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports, and he was recruited by some of the biggest schools including Indiana and Illinois before he decided to commit to Duke. When Ojeleye does finally suit up for the Mustangs next season he will be a big part of their team and he has the talent to lead them to where they want to go, so while SMU fans likely wanted to see him play a little bit this year, this is likely good news for them moving forward.
