The Ohio men’s basketball team has added a player to its 2011-2012 roster and another has shown interest in joining the team the following year.
Kenny Belton joins the current roster as a walk-on. He was a scholarship player for Cincinnati and averaged 1.6 points and a rebound in the 21 games that he played during the 2007-2008 season, his freshman year.
Belton helped Dudley (N.C.) High School to a 26-4 record and claimed the state 3A title.
He has not played in three years because of a spinal injury that stripped him of eligibility. He was allowed to keep his scholarship and recently graduated.
Because Belton graduated, he is able to transfer and play right away.
Belton will take graduate classes, like former Bobcat Asown Sayles did a year ago. He is the only roster player listed as a senior.
Coach John Groce was not available for comment.
Another player, Caris LeVert, verbally committed to play for the 2012-2013 season. He is ranked eighth in the state of Ohio among shooting guards by ESPN.
Ohio is limited to 12 scholarships because of an NCAA-imposed penalty for failure to meet academic progress report minimums.
Freshman Joe Mitchell vacated a scholarship when he left the program earlier this month. The Bobcats will be able to grab a late signee for the 2012 class or have another scholarship available for the 2013 season.
— Brandon Kors contributed to this report.
nr225008@ohiou.edu
