[Lex Luthor]

About damn time!

Chieck Diallo cleared to play

The playing status of Cheick Diallo has been resolved, with the NCAA ruling Wednesday that the prized freshman can suit up for Kansas starting next week.

The NCAA's decision ends a lengthy back and forth between the organization and the Jayhawks. Coach Bill Self held a conference call Saturday night to detail the steps the university had taken to work with the NCAA regarding Diallo's eligibility. Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger also sent a detailed letter to the NCAA detailing the Jayhawks' view that the organization had mishandled the player's case.

"I really want to thank the NCAA staff for guiding this process to a fair conclusion in what was a very complicated situation," Zenger said.

Diallo, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward, will be eligible to play Tuesday, when the fifth-ranked Jayhawks host Loyola. Kansas currently is in Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, where it takes on No. 19 Vanderbilt on Wednesday night in the championship game. Diallo was allowed to travel with the team to the event.

Diallo arrived in the United States from Mali midway through his freshman season in 2012, and spent his last 3½ years at Our Savior New American, a private high school in Centereach, New York.

In 2012, the NCAA placed Our Savior under review, which potentially could have nullified Diallo's core coursework.

The NCAA, though, confirmed that Kansas provided new information earlier this month, including an independent review of that coursework. Based on the information provided, the NCAA concluded that Diallo received a limited amount of extra benefits and thus only would have to miss Kansas' first five games.

"Our goal is to have eligibility decisions made prior to the start of a student-athlete's season," said Oliver Luck, the NCAA executive vice president of regulatory affairs. "However, this was a complicated case involving international transcripts and a high school that remains under review. Additionally, staff considered a complex set of circumstances regarding amateurism."

Diallo previously told ESPN that he received an A and a B in two summer courses he took at Kansas. He is currently enrolled in 15 units in the fall semester.

Diallo is considered the prize of Kansas' recruiting class, a relentless rebounder ranked No. 7 in the ESPN 100. He has drawn comparisons to Denver Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried.

http://espn.go.com/ncb/story/_/id/14...ansas-jayhawks