St. John’s basketball recruit Babacar Sane has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in Queens Supreme Court, challenging the governing body’s decision to rule him ineligible for the upcoming season. The NCAA denied St. John’s request for Sane’s reinstatement on August 13, citing an "intent to professionalize" as the reason for the provisional ineligibility.
Sane, a 6-foot-7 prospect from Senegal, committed to St. John’s and coach Rick Pitino in May. He enrolled in summer classes, relocated to Queens, and has participated in team workouts. He is currently registered for the fall semester.
In a 55-page legal document, Sane’s attorneys argue that the NCAA’s decision lacks justification. They state that the ruling cites no specific NCAA bylaw, fails to address Sane’s academic plan or degree commitment, and leaves a field for case precedent blank.
Players with prior professional experience are initially considered provisionally ineligible for NCAA competition. The process for these athletes to become eligible is known as reinstatement. St. John’s has formally appealed the NCAA’s ruling.