While walking in the hallways of Worthen Arena, men’s basketball player Jeremiah Davis III is stopped by assistant athletic trainer Troy Hershman.
“Hey, just heard the news,” Hershman said. “Congratulations.”
Lately, Davis has a lot to be congratulated on.
Ball State announced Tuesday that the NCAA is waiving its usual transfer rule, meaning Davis can play at the beginning of the season this winter.
The rule is a mandatory one-year period in which transfer students must sit out from athletics.
“I was glad for the NCAA,” head coach James Whitford said. “To me, it was a real sign of what they talk about, trying to help the student-athletes.”
A special case was made for Davis after his home in Muncie burned down, causing him to return to Ball State.
He found out about his eligibility when his coach told him.
Season averages |
|||||||||
| SEASON | TEAM | MIN | FG% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | TO | PTS |
| 2013-14 | CIN | 5.0 | .500 | 1.000 | 0.7 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| 2012-13 | CIN | 10.8 | .389 | .833 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 5.5 |
| 2011-12 | CIN | 7.9 | 3.94 | .444 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.5 |
| VIA ESPN | |||||||||
“[Whitford] was excited,” Davis said. “We had a moment together. It was great.”
Davis III will also be on a full scholarship this season, signifying a larger role for him.
He said that both announcements were blessings to him and his family.
After playing high school basketball at nearby Muncie Central High School, Davis III received offers from national powerhouses like Indiana and Oklahoma State, before ultimately choosing to committ to Cincinnati.
In a little over two seasons as a Bearcat, Davis III struggled with injuries and saw a total of 73 minutes his final two seasons.
The combo guard looks to have a major impact this season, as the Cardinals lost three guards from last season’s team: Jesse Berry to graduation, and Quinten Payne and Mark Alstork to transfer.
Whitford said Davis III was going to have a big role this season even without Payne and Alstork’s transfers.
“We got a chance to watch him practice all year,” Whitford said. “Everyone on the team knew that when that day came for him, he was going to be an instrumental player for us. I don’t think that changes it at all.”
Although it’s been awhile since Davis III played a competitive game, Whitford expects his learning curve to be short.
“He’ll start much higher and I think he’ll learn much higher,“ Whitford said. “By the mid-semester, I think he should be like any other older guy.“
Another ruling could impact Davis III for the 2015-16 season, as well. Cincinnati is currently appealing to the NCAA, attempting to get Davis III medical redshirt for the 2012-13 season. He played in just four games because of a wrist injury. If the appeal is granted, Davis III will be able to play in the 2015-16 season as well.
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