| | Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The NCAA granted center Ken Johnson an
additional year of eligibility, allowing the nation's leading shot
blocker to return to Ohio State for a fourth season.
Johnson could have made himself eligible for the NBA draft, but
he decided to wait for the NCAA ruling in hopes he could return to
finish getting his art degree and play a fourth year with the
Buckeyes.
Johnson, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, had 161
blocked shots last year, an average of 5.37 a game.
"I weighed all my options. I saw so many extra benefits to
staying at Ohio State," Johnson said. "I am totally overwhelmed
and excited that I have the opportunity to come back and further my
education. I felt that if I left this year I would not come back to
graduate.
"I will have the opportunity to get bigger and stronger as
well. I get to play another year," he said.
Johnson didn't meet the NCAA's Prop 48 academic requirements his
freshman year, which meant he had to sit out that season and
forfeited one of four years of eligibility. Ohio State asked the
NCAA to allow him a fourth year under an exception to the rule.
The exception says the NCAA can grant a fourth season of
eligibility if a player has a diagnosed learning disability and
already has completed 75 percent of a degree program at the end of
four academic years. | |
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