LaQuinton Ross ruled a non-qualifier
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KyleRowland">Rowland | Givler
Thad Matta's Ohio State Buckeyes will start practice in less than three weeks but will be doing so without one of its star recruits from the class of 2011. The NCAA ruled that LaQuinton Ross has been designated a non-qualifier and cannot be on the roster when practice starts on October 14th.
Ross committed to Ohio State in August of 2010 as a small forward out of Burlington, N.J., but originally came from Jackson, Miss. He was rated as a four-star recruit and held offers from Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Kentucky, among others.
The 6-foot-8, 195-pounder transferred high schools to start the 2009-10 school year and the reported issues stemming from transcript issues during that change of venue. His grades were flagged as he was going through the NCAA Clearinghouse and, despite appeals, it appears that Ross will have to sit this year.
Ohio State cannot issue a statement on this issue according to a university spokesman because Ross is considered a prospect in this case. The statement continues to say that, "(Ohio State does) not have a basketball non-qualifier on campus."
The Buckeyes will still have four signees from the class of 2011 in the fold with Trey McDonald, Shannon Scott, Sam Thompson and Amir Williams to join a roster that will be looking to replace Jon Diebler, David Lighty and Dallas Lauderdale.
The men's basketball season starts on November 11th as Ohio State hosts Wright State in the season opener.
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