Oklahoma State University Athletics
Williams Back In Men's Basketball Squad
January 14, 2000 | Cowboy Basketball
Jan. 14, 2000
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State forward Andre Williams was reinstated to the school's basketball squad Friday afternoon by the NCAA Student Athlete Reinstatement Committee.
Williams missed five games of the current season while OSU officials and the NCAA discussed eligibility questions stemming from his enrollment at a prep school (Maine Central Institute).
OSU officials were informed Friday afternoon that the conditions for reinstating Williams' eligibility would include just the games he has already missed this season and paying $5,000 to a charity over the next four years.
OSU Athletics Director Terry Don Phillips said the Student Athlete Reinstatement Committee made its decision based on Andre's total and complete cooperation and honesty as well as determining that a unique relationship existed between Williams' family and the donor. The committee also cited the fact that Williams was unaware of any wrongdoing.
"We are extremely appreciative to Rick Allen (Assistant AD for Compliance), Gerald Lage (OSU Faculty Representative) and Mike Glazier (Attorney in the firm of Bond, Schoeneck and King, LLP) for their hard work in developing the facts that supported the decision," Phillips said. "We are also appreciative to the NCAA staff for their willingness to continue dialogue over the past few weeks and certainly appreciative of the committee's careful consideration of mitigating circumstances."
Williams will accompany OSU to Waco and be available for Saturday's game against Baylor. A freshman from Kansas City, Williams has played in seven games this season, averaging 5.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game.
