Auburn’s Danjel Purifoy learns eligibility status from NCAA

After months of speculation, the NCAA has finally made a ruling on the status of Auburn basketball player Danjel Purifoy.

247Sports’ Brandon Marcello reported Tuesday that the NCAA has ruled Purifoy will regain his eligibility after the first 30 percent of the 2018-2019 basketball season, which is approximately nine games. The decision comes after Auburn held Purifoy and teammate Austin Wiley out for the 2017-2018 season due to concerns regarding their inclusion in the FBI’s investigation into corruption in college basketball.

Wiley’s status going forward remains unclear.

“We worked diligently with the NCAA on behalf of both our student-athletes who were ineligible this season,” Auburn president Steve Leath said per Marcello. “The process was arduous, but it was important that we do everything we could to put Danjel Purifoy and Austin Wiley in the best position to resume their Auburn basketball careers. We’re happy for them and their teammates and their coaches.”

The 6-foot-7 Purifoy played in 29 games for Auburn in 2016-2017, averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. He scored a career-high 27 points against Boston College and joined fellow freshman Mustapha Heron as the first Auburn freshmen to score in double figures in their first five college games since 1990-1991.

Purifoy came to Auburn as a four-star power forward from Centreville, Ala.

Purifoy was predicted to be one of several Auburn players to test the NBA Draft waters. Though it’s unclear how this development will affect his decision, Purifoy’s tweet after Auburn’s season-ending loss to Clemson makes it sound like he’s up for a return.

“Still happy for my brothers. Y’all accomplished the impossible,” Purifoy tweeted. Now let’s see if I can get cleared and come back and win next year.”

This story was originally published March 20, 2018 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Auburn’s Danjel Purifoy learns eligibility status from NCAA."