Published: September 17, 2008 04:20 pm         

ISU guard Harry Marshall declared ineligible

TERRE HAUTE — The Indiana State men’s basketball team will have to do without one of its undisputed leaders for much of its nonconference schedule for the upcoming season.

Harry Marshall, who is expected to be the heir apparent to Gabe Moore at point guard, will be academically ineligible for the first semester this season, ISU announced Wednesday.

Marshall, a junior, is one of two returning scorers for the Sycamores (Marico Stinson is the other) who averaged double-digit points per game with a 10.1 average in 2008. His 71 assists and 31 steals are tops among returning players.

ISU and the coaching staff did not wish to comment on the specifics of why Marshall is ineligible. ISU coach Kevin McKenna had the following comment in an ISU press release.

“Harry is working very hard to regain good academic standing here at ISU,” McKenna said. “Harry has our continued support in his pursuit of success in the classroom.”

Calls to seek further comment from McKenna were not returned. Marshall could not be reached for comment.

One sticking point that hasn’t been resolved is when Marshall will be able to return to game action. ISU’s first semester ends on Dec. 12 and the Sycamores are scheduled to play at Purdue on Dec. 13. As per NCAA rules, players are cleared to play once their first semester grades are turned in, they do not need to wait until the second semester begins.

It is not known, though it is considered unlikely, that Marshall’s grades will be turned in on time to play against the Boilermakers. If he’s not eligible for Purdue, Marshall’s first game back is projected to be the Dec. 20 home game against DePauw.

Marshall will definitely be out for the game at DePaul in November and for the entire Marques Maybin Classic at Louisville in December. In all, Marshall is expected to miss eight games for certain, nine if he is ineligible for the Purdue game. Marshall will still be allowed to practice and work out with the team, as he has been doing since the semester began.

Marshall’s absence is an early-season blow for the Sycamores, who were depending on his leadership to get them through a difficult nonconference slate. As it currently stands, ISU’s point guard duties will now fall upon junior college transfer Rashad Reed and true freshman Tyler Cutter until Marshall returns, neither of whom has any Division I experience.

“Knowing he’s going to be away, I’m going to have to pick my game up, be more vocal and be a leader,” said Reed, who transferred from Vincennes Univeristy in March. “I’m doing what I have to do, and a little bit more, to make the team as good or better than it was last year.”

Reed said Marshall hasn’t lost focus and proved it by being named the weight room “warrior of the week” last week. There is every indication Marshall will be in good standing for second semester games, which include all of the Missouri Valley Conference schedule.

“It’s messed up he won’t be by my side the first few games, but it’s a temporary thing. He constantly lets us all know this is Division I ball, we have to go hard all the time, every drill. He’s working just as hard as he had been, maybe harder, because he knows he has something to prove once he comes back,” Reed said. “The first week or so I had some difficulty getting into it. I have a lot to work on, but I feel I’m ready to show everybody what I came here for.”