Staiger Ineligible According To NCAA

AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State freshman men's basketball player Lucca Staiger is ineligible according to the NCAA because he has not been certified for competition.

The NCAA debuted in 2007 an Amateur Certification program to validate the amateur status of freshmen and Staiger's participation on a German club team prior to enrollment at Iowa State University affected his amateur status.

Staiger, a native of Baulstein, Germany, played three seasons for the Ehingen Club team in Germany. Members of that club team ? not including Staiger ? received stipends that the NCAA determined were above actual and necessary expenses. Therefore, the Ehingen team is deemed a professional organization by the NCAA.

Even though Staiger did not personally receive any impermissible expenses, his participation on a team considered professional makes him ineligible for Division I intercollegiate athletics competition. Staiger is subject to a maximum loss of one year of eligibility, but Iowa State is working with the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff to try and reduce that penalty.

“First and foremost, I feel terrible for Lucca who has done nothing wrong during this process,” ISU head men's basketball coach Greg McDermott said. “Lucca believed that participation on that club team would not affect his ability to play college basketball in the United States. Several teammates received minimal expenses causing a loss of NCAA eligibility for all of the team members.

“We will pursue every avenue available to restore his playing eligibility at Iowa State as quickly as possible, but it's in the hands of the NCAA reinstatement staff,” McDermott said.

Staiger may continue practicing with the Cyclones and taking part in all team activities except for game action. Staiger, who played his senior year of high school at Decatur (Ill.) Christian, was a four-year member of the German Junior National team.

Staiger Ineligible According To NCAA

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Lucca Staiger

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Staiger Ineligible According To NCAA

Players Mentioned

Lucca Staiger

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