Omogbehin in, Jackson out for USF men’s hoops

Posted Aug 26, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Aug 26, 2011 at 10:15 PM

USF men’s basketball coach Stan Heath signed two big post players for the 2011-12 season. Only one of them is joining the Bulls this fall, though he isn’t eligible to play.

Jordan Omogbehin, a 7-foot-3 center from Atlantic Shores Christian in Virginia, was granted an initial eligibility waiver from the NCAA and enrolled at USF for the fall semester, but he must sit out this season. Meanwhile, 6-foot-10 junior college transfer Andre Jackson did not meet NCAA transfer regulations and will not attend USF.

Omogbehin, who had enrolled this week at the Brandon-based prep school Faith Baptist, was granted partial eligibility by the NCAA, which allows him to receive athletic-related financial aid and to practice with the team but not play. He will redshirt this season.

“We are very happy for Jordan. He is a terrific young man and has a very bright future at USF”, Heath said in a statement. “Jordan will benefit immensely from redshirting this season. The redshirt year will provide him an opportunity to develop his skills, increase his strength and get acclimated to the college game.”

Both players were expected to beef up USF’s frontcourt, but the Bulls now are extremely thin there, with seniors Augustus Gilchrist and Ron Anderson Jr. and junior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick as the only post players on the roster with experience.