Muniru Cleared to Play By NCAA

Bloomington – Five of members of Indiana’s top-10 recruiting class made their exhibition debuts Wednesday night. IU officials have now learned that sixth member of that class, Bawa Muniru, can join them on the court in Monday’s final exhibition contest against St. Joseph’s (Ind.) College.

Indiana announced Thursday that the 6’11”, 260-pound Ghana native has been cleared to play by the NCAA Eligibility Center effective immediately. Muniru has been permitted to practice with the team while his eligibility issues were being sorted out, but he hadn’t been allowed to participate in games.

IU Coach Tom Crean expressed confidence throughout the process that Muniru eventually would be cleared, and that came fruition today.

“We are excited for Bawa as he can now move forward with his energies completely focused on his academic and athletic career at Indiana,” IU Coach Tom Crean said in a prepared statement. “We know the NCAA had to take their time and we appreciate them seeing this process through.”

Muniru averaged 16.6 points and 8.9 rebounds as a senior at Madison (Ala.) Academy in 2007-08 and then spent a post-graduate year at Mt. Zion Academy last season.