Updates on the college basketball scandal: Anthony Melton of USC is suspended
Ten minutes prior to USC’s season-opener vs. Cal State Fullerton’s on Friday night, the school announced that sophomore guard De’Anthony Melton has been indefinitely suspended, as his eligibility is in question due to the FBI’s investigation.
“As a precaution, De’Anthony is being held out due to a potential issue regarding eligibility,” the school’s statement reads. “De’Anthony is a valued member of the USC community and USC is working diligently to independently investigate this matter in order to confirm that De’Anthony meets the NCAA eligibility requirements.”
Melton, who is placed in CBS Sports’ Top 100 (and one) players list, is an important member of a USC squad that is in our top 10 and hoping to qualify for this season’s Final Four with a roster full of quality. During the previous season, Melton averaged 8.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 steals. There’s not a real successor for him on the roster; he’s a unique fit for Andy Enfield’s team.
Melton was the second player at a school connected to the FBI’s investigation whose eligibility was publicly disclosed on Friday. Prior to Oklahoma State’s opener, Jeffrey Carroll (the leading returning scorer in the Big 12) was announced as ineligible as well.
