Sharpe likely will not play next season

[Greenhead22]

June 30, 2005

Sharpe's chances for '05-06 look slim

# Rising MSU sophomore may need special waiver to play

By Ian R. Rapoport
irapopor@clarionledger.com

STARKVILLE — The chances of Walter Sharpe playing basketball for Mississippi State during the 2005-06 season appear extremely slim.

Because of his academic performance this past spring, Sharpe will not likely be allowed to take enough hours to be eligible, confirmed David Boles, MSU's associate athletic director for student services.

Sharpe, a 6-foot-9 forward, would need a special wavier from the university to take additional coursework to make it happen, Boles added.

Even if he's ineligible this season, Sharpe could still attend school and practice with the team while redshirting, then return in 2006-07 — provided he does the course work needed to regain his eligibility.

Neither Sharpe, nor MSU coach Rick Stansbury, were available for comment.

It was previously reported that Sharpe will not be eligible for the fall term because he did not pass the minimum six hours during the spring term.

According to the school's Student-Athlete Handbook, an athlete needs to have passed 24 total hours entering the second year, 18 of which must have come during the academic year and not during the summer. He or she also must maintain a 1.8 (out of 4.0) grade point average.

Sharpe played in 22 of MSU's 34 games last season, averaging just 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds. He spent a part of the season in Stansbury's doghouse after being late to practices and missing a team flight. Still, he had impressive moments, such as a game at LSU in which he scored 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting.

If eligible, the sophomore-to-be is expected to be in the mix for a starting forward spot for the Bulldogs, who return no starters from last year's 23-11 season.

Sharpe is attending Lawson State Community College in his hometown of Birmingham, taking six hours of classes.

He is on academic probation at MSU because he didn't pass the six hours in the spring.

According to MSU academic policy, the course load for a student on academic probation is restricted to 14 credit hours. If Sharpe passed less than four hours of credit in the spring, he couldn't reach the 18 required hours by the time the fall ended.

"He probably won't have enough hours, when you put together his spring and fall semesters to get the hours (to be eligible)," said Boles, who would not specify exactly how many hours Sharpe had passed. "And if he does have his 24 hours, he won't have them in the right spots."

While applying to the university for a waiver to take more classes is a possibility, Boles said, "the odds of that being granted would be slim." If it is, Sharpe could then apply to the NCAA for an eligibility waiver.

Questions of Sharpe's eligibility can't officially begin to be answered until he concludes his summer classes.

If he does not pass this summer, "he won't be here," Boles said. "His opportunities are enhanced if he does the work this summer."