NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year

The NCAA has granted a waiver that will allow Elliot Williams to play for Memphis this season.

"We are appreciative to the NCAA in granting this waiver request for Elliot," said Memphis coach Josh Pastner. "We understand this is bittersweet, but Elliot is excited to play for his hometown school. The city of Memphis has fully embraced Elliot and his family, and they are so grateful for the support they have received."

A Memphis native, Williams chose to enroll at Duke out of high school over Tennessee, Memphis and Virginia. He played for the Blue Devils last season. But the former McDonald's All-American opted to transfer closer to home this summer to be near his mother, who is battling cancer, and there was little doubt at the time that the NCAA would waive the penalty that typically forces Division I transfers to sit out one year.

In other words, Friday's announcement comes as no surprise.

But it's still considered a dose of good news for a program that needed some.

A day earlier, the NCAA announced it is forcing Memphis to vacate its 2008 Final Four.

NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year

mrpibb Reputation: 35 Level: Rookie Since: Aug 25, 2009	Posted on: August 25, 2009 9:32 pm Score: 7 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year don't worry, if memphis wins enough games they will change thier minds about his eligibility and take the trophy away [ Reply to Comment ]
bigk72 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 28, 2006	Posted on: August 25, 2009 5:20 pm Score: 54 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year "I feel like i'm Taking Crazy pills" - Mugatu [ Reply to Comment ]
CBBfan877 Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Dec 24, 2007	Posted on: August 24, 2009 6:24 pm Score: 37 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year they are being consistent....kinda.... they hit us for "cheating" but they let EW transfer they dont hit USC for "cheating", but they dont let AS transfer. or maybe consistently inconsistent [ Reply to Comment ]
BigCheese37 Reputation: 88 Level: All-Star Since: Feb 21, 2008	Posted on: August 24, 2009 5:40 pm Score: 80 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year So, in the spirit of asking about fairness from the NCAA, or at the least, some consistency, I must wonder why Alex Steheson's transfer to USC to be near his ill father was not given the same immediate playing clearance? He had to sit out a year, despite transferring to be closer to an ill family member. Seems wrong to me. [ Reply to Comment ]
titans4volz Reputation: 75 Level: Pro Since: Apr 23, 2009	Posted on: August 24, 2009 5:20 pm Score: 66 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year it took this long. and u cant declare memphis going 2 to the final four never happened [ Reply to Comment ]
bigk72 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 28, 2006	Posted on: August 24, 2009 11:32 am Score: 59 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year Gary, Are you Sure the NCAA isn't going to declare Williams not Eligible a year later....? [ Reply to Comment ]
shaffdog3 Reputation: 16 Level: Amateur Since: Jan 6, 2009	Posted on: August 24, 2009 12:58 am Score: 18 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year if duke still had elliot williams they would deff be a final four contender ..anyone else agree? i think they r an elite eight team tops but ive overrated them for the last 5 years so w/e [ Reply to Comment ]
kloutiger Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 13, 2009	Posted on: August 23, 2009 10:49 pm Score: 82 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year I was going to comment, but I can't top what you guys have already said. Ya gotta watch out for them NCAA types. Never know what they're planning next. [ Reply to Comment ]
sonny_objective Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 18, 2009	Posted on: August 22, 2009 6:54 pm Score: 122 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year Hope you guys don't win 38 again. My sources are telling me that a young Williams ran a weekly lemonade stand during the summer of 1996, charging a fair 25 cents a cup. But recent discoveries show that sometimes customers tipped Williams and gave him a full one dollar bill instead of the set price. And Williams...accepted I remember that lemonade stand vividly! It was on the corner of elm and W 47th. I actually gave him a $5 for the lemonade and told him he could keep the change, which he did. I hope this doesnt come back and bite memphis next year. [ Reply to Comment ]
wizardking Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 17, 2006	Posted on: August 22, 2009 2:55 pm Score: 114 NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year Hope you guys don't win 38 again. My sources are telling me that a young Williams ran a weekly lemonade stand during the summer of 1996, charging a fair 25 cents a cup. But recent discoveries show that sometimes customers tipped Williams and gave him a full one dollar bill instead of the set price. And Williams...accepted . This is simply unacceptable, and I'm certain when this is discovered by the NCAA, probably around April 10, 2010, that the season will be rightfully vacated. [ Reply to Comment ]

So, in the spirit of asking about fairness from the NCAA, or at the least, some consistency, I must wonder why Alex Steheson's transfer to USC to be near his ill father was not given the same immediate playing clearance? He had to sit out a year, despite transferring to be closer to an ill family member. Seems wrong to me.

NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year

Hope you guys don't win 38 again. My sources are telling me that a young Williams ran a weekly lemonade stand during the summer of 1996, charging a fair 25 cents a cup. But recent discoveries show that sometimes customers tipped Williams and gave him a full one dollar bill instead of the set price. And Williams...accepted I remember that lemonade stand vividly! It was on the corner of elm and W 47th. I actually gave him a $5 for the lemonade and told him he could keep the change, which he did. I hope this doesnt come back and bite memphis next year.

NCAA clears Williams to play at Memphis this year

Hope you guys don't win 38 again. My sources are telling me that a young Williams ran a weekly lemonade stand during the summer of 1996, charging a fair 25 cents a cup. But recent discoveries show that sometimes customers tipped Williams and gave him a full one dollar bill instead of the set price. And Williams...accepted . This is simply unacceptable, and I'm certain when this is discovered by the NCAA, probably around April 10, 2010, that the season will be rightfully vacated.

	The Official Fantasy Baseball Commissioner Game of MLB.com.
	Get notified when College Basketball Bracket Games launch in 2012.
	Play football all year with Franchise Football on Facebook.
	Play Fantasy Basketball with in-depth news, live scoring & more. Get Started

Games

See All Games

Visit App Central

Fantasy News and Analysis

Gary Parrish

Parrish: The Thoughts