When Braxton Beverly arrived at NC State this summer, new teammate Omer Yurtseven offered him some advice.
“He said just work,” Beverly recalled. “Prepare like you’re going to get to play. Just take it day-by-day. Whatever happens, happens. Just make the most of every day.”
Yurtseven had to sit out the first nine games of last season due to an NCAA ruling about his eligibility. On Friday, Beverly received similar bad news.
The three-star point guard was ruled ineligible for this season by the NCAA. NC State plans to appeal the decision as soon as possible.
The issue stems from a summer class that Beverly began taking at Ohio State over the summer. He initially committed to the Buckeyes coming out of high school and began work in the first summer session on May 10. He enrolled in Rural Sociology and Life Span Human Development.
Coach Thad Matta was fired three weeks later, however, and all incoming freshmen were released from the letters of intent and allowed to sign elsewhere. Beverly chose NC State.
However, since he’d already begun taking classes at Ohio State, the NCAA considered him a freshman transfer instead of an incoming freshman released from his letter. As a result, he needs to sit out a year, per the NCAA’s transfer policy.
The NCAA reviewed Beverly’s case, and his fate was still uncertain when he spoke to reporters at NC State media day last month.
“It can be (frustrating) if you let it get to you,” he said at the time, “but I made this decision to put me in a better place and to have a better time in college. Ultimately, I think even if worse comes to worse and I have to sit out a year, I’m still happy here and happy with my decision. I’m preparing like I’m going to play.”
On Friday, the worst news arrived as the NCAA refused to waive its transfer rule for his case, meaning he’ll have to wait until next year to begin his Wolfpack career.
“I’m devastated by this decision,” Beverly said in a statement on Friday. “It’s incredibly unfair. I appreciate NC State and the work being done here to appeal this decision. My hope is that it gets resolved and I can be eligible to play this season.”
