NCAA BK

NCAA clears Kentucky's Noel to play

Image: Kentucky's Nerlens Noel (© James Crisp/Associated Press)
The nation's top recruit, Nerlens Noel, is eligible to play for Kentucky this season.
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Updated Oct 17, 2012 9:13 PM ET
     
 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)

Kentucky freshman forward Nerlens Noel has been cleared by the NCAA to play this season for the Wildcats.

FINAL FOUR

NCAA spokesman Cameron Schuh said Wednesday the 6-foot-10, 228-pound Noel was ''cleared to practice and play'' following a probe into the funding of unofficial visits to Kentucky.

Schuh did not provide any details or findings of the NCAA's investigation.

Before Wednesday's decision, Noel, considered the nation's top recruit, could only practice after finishing summer classes to meet reclassification requirements.

Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy said via text that the school does not confirm eligibility until competition begins.

The defending national champion Wildcats open Nov. 9 against Maryland at the Barclays Center Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Kentucky coach John Calipari first revealed Noel's status during a Wednesday morning appearance on ESPN promoting tonight's debut of the network's all-access program about the Wildcats.

However, Calipari seemed confident during last week's media day that Noel would be eligible, saying, ''he will practice, and if we played tomorrow, he would play.''

Noel is part of Kentucky's highly touted freshmen class including 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein, guard Archie Goodwin and forward Alex Poythress.

His game has been compared to Anthony Davis, last year's Final Four most outstanding player after leading the Wildcats to their eighth title. Davis went on to become the NBA's top overall draft pick and win an Olympic gold medal with Team USA in London this summer.

Noel, who talked with Davis after arriving on campus, didn't seem concerned about his eligibility last week.

''I'm not worrying about it at all,'' he said. ''I'm just focusing on getting better every day.''

Tagged: Kentucky

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