6:00: Morning News

Huggins says he hasn’t ruled out Holton playing this season

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia coach Bob Huggins says the door hasn’t completely shut on junior college transfer Jonathan Holton playing this season.

“No, I don’t think it’s final,” Huggins said Tuesday night while visiting with the crew on MetroNews “Statewide Sportsline.”

During preseason practice in early October, Huggins said Holton would redshirt if his eligibility issues weren’t cleared up by a reasonable juncture. With West Virginia wrapping up fall semester finals, Huggins said he is still awaiting word on whether the 6-foot-7 forward—who has been practicing with the team—receives academic clearance to play.

The Mountaineers (8-4) have two nonconference games remaining—against Purdue on Sunday and William & Mary on Dec. 29—before beginning the 18-game Big 12 schedule. At what point does it become too late for Holton to join the playing rotation?

“I think that’s something that we certainly have to evaluate,” Huggins said. “And I think we have to evaluate not just how it affects our team, but how it affects Jonathan and his future.

“I think right now, if he were able to, he’d still be able to conceivably play 25 games.”

A former Atlantic 10 all-rookie selection at Rhode Island, Holton averaged 17.5 points and 14.1 rebounds at Palm Beach (Fla.) State Community College last season and presumably would provide a rebounding and inside scoring boost for WVU.

On Oct. 18 the Dominion Post in Morgantown reported Holton had enrolled at WVU without graduating at Palm Beach State. Under the NCAA’s 4-2-4 rule, a player who begins at a four-year program and transfers to a two-year institution must graduate from the junior college before becoming eligible at another four-year school.







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