NCAA declares MSU's Zeidaks ineligible to play

Zeidaks

By LEE ADAMS
sdnsports@bellsouth.net [2]

Mississippi State's mens basketball team is no stranger to players being declared ineligible.
Kristers Zeidaks is the newest Bulldog to feel the wrath of the NCAA, as he has been declared ineligible for the entire 2011-12 season and the first 11 games of next season.
The reason the NCAA Eligibility Center has ruled Zeidaks ineligible is due to him competing in a league with and professional players in his home country of Latvia.
The 6-foot-8 forward signed with MSU in July this year and would have three years to play for the Bulldogs, but that changed with the NCAA's ruling.
"We are incredibly disappointed by the NCAA’s ruling regarding Kris," MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin said in a statement released by the school. "Mississippi State has not yet seen a written report of the appeal committee's decision, thus we will withhold further comment until we've received that report and had the opportunity to review with our compliance staff and outside counsel."
While the appeal process continues, the Bulldogs will host an exhibition tonight against Pikeville and will open their season Monday in the regional rounds of the 2K Classic against Eastern Kentucky.