Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
The good news just keeps rolling in for N.C. State and head coach Mark Gottfried.
Two days after securing a verbal pledge from 2013 point guard Anthony “Cat” Barber, N.C. State will learn that freshman guard Rodney Purvis has been “fully cleared” by the NCAA, a source with direct knowledge told SNY.tv.
Purvis was initially ruled ineligible after the NCAA Eligibility Center examed Purvis’ high school coursework at Upper Room Christian Academy, but was cleared after an appeal, which rarely happens.
“I’m really happy for Rodney,” said head coach Mark Gottfried after SNY.tv first reported the story. “It’s been a difficult situation and he’s handled the entire matter with class. Now he can move forward. I’d also like to thank the NCAA for its thoughtful consideration on this decision.”
Purvis echoed his coach’s sentiment.
“I’m really excited about the decision that the NCAA came to today,” said Purvis. “I appreciate the hard work of everybody involved and I’m looking forward to focusing on school and basketball.”
Purvis is a McDonald’s All-American who joins fellow freshman Tyler Lewis and T.J. Warren in Gottfried’s elite class.
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.