Former Eastern Kentucky high school star finally wins NCAA appeal to play

Braxton Beverly, the former Perry County Central star who twice had been denied eligibility by the NCAA under its transfer rules, will be able to play Tuesday night after winning his latest appeal.

“Based on additional information, NCAA staff reconsidered and granted N.C. State’s transfer waiver request for Braxton Beverly, allowing him to compete immediately,” the NCAA said Tuesday afternoon on its @InsidetheNCAA Twitter account.

The news was confirmed later by N.C. State on its own Twitter account @PackMensBball with a simple exclamation: “Eligible!”

Beverly, who has been eligible to practice with the team, can now take the floor for the Wolfpack in its game against the Bryant Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The announcement ends a monthslong process of waiver requests and appeals after Beverly, an incoming freshman, decided to transfer from Ohio State after Thad Matta’s abrupt firing this summer.

Beverly enrolled in two summer classes at Ohio State, but four weeks later, longtime coach Matta was let go by the Buckeyes. He decided to transfer two weeks later with a full release from Ohio State and a letter of endorsement from Matta to the NCAA.

Beverly, a 6-foot shooting guard, committed to Ohio State last year out of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., where he averaged 20.1 points, 6.4 assists and 2.2 steals after moving there from Kentucky. He last played for Perry County Central as a sophomore, averaging 21.1 points per game. He had been playing varsity at Perry Central since seventh grade.

This story was originally published November 14, 2017 at 6:15 PM with the headline "Former Eastern Kentucky high school star finally wins NCAA appeal to play."