NCAA reinstates Shabazz Muhammad

• Shabazz Muhammad was suspended for one week pending an NCAA review of his elibility
• Muhammad is regarded as one of the top two or three freshmen in men's college basketball
• Because he missed three of UCLA's games, he is eligible to compete immediately Monday

The NCAA on Friday reinstated star UCLA freshman forward Shabazz Muhammad and declared him eligible to play immediately for the Bruins men's basketball team after the university "acknowledged amateurism violations" in an appeal to the association.

In a statement, the NCAA wrote, "The university required the student-athlete to miss 10 percent of the season (three games) and repay approximately $1,600 in impermissible benefits. The NCAA agreed the actions taken by the university were sufficient. Because Muhammad has already sat out three games, he is now eligible to compete."

Muhammad's collegiate debut is scheduled to come Monday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where UCLA plays Georgetown at 8 p.m. as part of the Legends Classic.

Less than 10 minutes after the announcement, Muhammad posted through his Twitter account @phenom15balla, "#FREE".

Later, in a statement provided by UCLA, Muhammad said, "I am excited to be able to play for UCLA starting next Monday. My family and friends were very supportive of me throughout this process and I couldn't have gone through this without them."

In addition to what the NCAA has called other "pending issues," the association has spent more than a year investigating three unofficial recruiting visits Muhammad made to two schools – North Carolina and Duke – that were paid for by North Carolina-based financial adviser Benjamin Lincoln.

The Muhammads claimed that Lincoln has been a family friend for five years. And Muhammad's attorney, Robert Orr, contended that Lincoln sought approval from the NCAA before paying for Muhammad's travel and lodging.

Orr also said that Muhammad had no knowledge of who paid for the trips and that his father, Ron Holmes, completed all requisite paperwork related to Lincoln paying for the recruiting visits.

When reached by phone Friday night, Lincoln referred comment to his attorney, Bill Trosch.

"When you practice law, there are very few moments when you feel completely vindicated," Trosch told USA TODAY Sports. "I understand why the ruling was worded the way it was, but I strongly feel this was a vindication that Shabazz is back on the court. We feel that (Benjamin) Lincoln was a family friend since 2007 and that everything they did was permitted, but I understand why the NCAA did what they did."

Orr told USA TODAY Sports after the decision Friday that he was delighted with the ruling that Muhammad can return to the court.

"This is obviously a compromise that the NCAA and UCLA worked out," Orr told USA TODAY Sports. "If it works for Shabazz, we are happy with that."

Orr said he believes the investigation had been resolved solely on the basis of the unofficial visits. "And as far as I am concerned, there certainly is nothing else out there," he said.

Orr told USA TODAY Sports this week that the NCAA had requested thousands of pages of documents, including years worth of bank records and credit card statements. He said that Muhammad conducted two interviews with NCAA enforcement staff and that Holmes and Muhammad's mother, Faye Muhammad, interviewed with enforcement officials in early November.

"It is worse than an IRS audit," Orr said in a telephone interview Thursday. "You at least have rights with the IRS audit. I'm waiting for the press to realize that the system, which is supposed to be for the best interest of these young men and women, absolutely abuses them. It is just outrageous."

The Los Angeles Times reported this week that an attorney, who wishes to remain anonymous, overheard a conversation during an August plane flight that entailed a man suggesting that his girlfriend, whom he claimed worked for the NCAA, was going to uncover violations committed by Muhammad.

When asked Friday night whether the details of the Times' report suggests that this NCAA investigation was compromised, Orr said: "It certainly raises some very serious concerns about the way things played out over a long period of time. Certainly I would anticipate that the NCAA would vigorously investigate those circumstances. It is a big organization, and I feel confident that the leadership wants to make sure that any kind of investigation and any kind of decision is an impartial decision, an unbiased decision without any improper prejudgment before all the facts are in. I think that is on them to investigate."

Orr said the student-athlete "really has no rights in this process and so we were not involved directly in the appeal", but also that he appreciates UCLA's "tenacious efforts" on behalf of Muhammad during the NCAA investigation.

When asked to characterize the investigation, Orr said, "It has been extraordinarily difficult and stressful for the family. Thousands of dollars have been spent by all the parties, hundreds of hours invested by all of the different people involved. All over the question of whether this now 19-year-old can play college basketball this year. All he wanted to do was play basketball this year. I know he is overjoyed."

In an e-mail to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday, NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn elaborated on the timeline of the investigation. She said the NCAA staff requested specific documents July 31 but did not receive the majority of requested documents until Sept. 25, followed by more information on Oct. 10. She added that the NCAA staff was first granted access to what she called "additional critical information" on Nov. 1.

Hours before UCLA opened its season Nov. 9, the NCAA ruled Muhammad ineligible because of what it called a violation of amateurism rules.

During Muhammad's recruitment, the NCAA informed schools recruiting the high school standout that there might be unresolved issues that would warrant further investigation, according to two college coaches familiar with Muhammad's recruitment. Some schools softened their recruitment or backed off almost entirely.

"We are extremely grateful that this matter has come to a conclusion," UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said in a statement released by the school. "I want to recognize that a lot of long hours and tireless effort were put into this process by staff members from UCLA and the NCAA, as well as by Shabazz Muhammad's family. This entire process has been challenging on many fronts, but we believe strongly in the principles of fairness, integrity and due process. We are satisfied with the outcome and pleased that Shabazz will be able to join his teammates on the floor, representing UCLA in Brooklyn on Monday night."

For UCLA, Muhammad, who played for Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, represents the crown jewel of a sterling recruiting class assembled to help lift coach Ben Howland's program back to national prominence. Greg Anthony, a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports who was born and raised in Las Vegas, told USA TODAY Sports that Muhammad is a "once-in-a-generation talent."

"I am relieved that this long, arduous process has come to an end," Howland said in a statement. "So many people worked very hard on this case and I am eternally grateful to them as well as the Bruin family, who stood by us throughout. I am pleased that Shabazz will be able to begin his collegiate career."

The following is the full NCAA statement:

The NCAA and UCLA have resolved the eligibility case of Shabazz Muhammad. UCLA acknowledged amateurism violations occurred and asked the NCAA on Friday afternoon to reinstate Muhammad. The university required the student-athlete to miss 10 percent of the season (three games) and repay approximately $1,600 in impermissible benefits. The NCAA agreed the actions taken by the university were sufficient. Because Muhammad has already sat out three games, he is now eligible to compete.

According to the facts of the case, which were agreed upon by the university and the NCAA staff, Muhammad accepted travel and lodging during unofficial visits to member schools. NCAA rules, which member schools create, state that student-athletes cannot receive benefits based on their athletic ability. NCAA amateurism rules are in place so that when student-athletes step onto the court, they are competing against other student-athletes who have met the same standards.

When a school discovers an NCAA rules violation has occurred, it must declare the student-athlete ineligible and may request the student-athlete's eligibility be reinstated. The NCAA staff reviews each student-athlete reinstatement request individually based on its own merits and set of specific facts.