WVU transfer Kerr Kriisa has suspended 9 games for Arizona case

West Virginia guard Keir Krysa, a transfer from Arizona, will serve a nine-game suspension this season after he admitted accepting impermissible benefits during his time with the Wildcats, the school announced Tuesday.

Krysa, who averaged 9.9 PPG and 5.1 APG last season in Arizona, maintained his commitment to West Virginia after Bob Huggins resigned and retired this summer following a DUI arrest.

West Virginia said in its statement that it became aware of CRISA’s potential violations in August.

“In late August 2023, West Virginia University became aware of potential concerns regarding the eligibility of men’s basketball transfer student-athlete Kerr Krysa, who admitted to receiving impermissible benefits while enrolled at the University of Arizona,” the statement read. “West Virginia worked collaboratively with the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff to reach an appropriate resolution. As a result of his actions, Cressa will miss nine (9) games in the 2023-2024 regular season as part of regaining his eligibility. Cressa will be able to continue Training and traveling with the team while it is suspended from competition. “He accepts responsibility for his actions in Arizona and looks forward to joining his Mountaineer teammates on the floor.”

It is unclear whether Chrissa’s admission will affect Arizona State, which is on probation for three years following the Independent Accountability Resolution Process’s decision on an NCAA wrongdoing case against the university. In December, IARP announced a 10-year contingent penalty for former Arizona assistant Book Richardson, but no penalty was imposed on former coach Sean Miller, who recently agreed to an extension at Xavier.

As part of an IARP resolution that was related to the FBI’s investigation into college basketball in 2017, Arizona was instructed to “notify all prospective student-athletes in men’s basketball and men’s swimming and diving in writing that the institution is being monitored for three years, detailing the same.” violations committed.”

It is also unclear what would constitute “impermissible advantages” in the age of name, image and likeness. Messages to the NCAA were not immediately returned.

Kreisa is from Estonia and played in Lithuania before his time in Arizona. The NIL rules for international players are complicated by rules relating to student visas and restrictions on overseas employment for these students.

In 2021, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a memorandum on NIL benefits for international students that said the organization is “actively monitoring proposed federal and state legislation regarding the use of name, image and likeness for student-athletes… The program is and is working with its partners within the US Department of Homeland Security to review how The impact of this legislation on international student-athletes.”

Krysa’s suspension is the latest in a series of challenges facing West Virginia, which was picked to finish ninth this season in the Big 12 preseason poll.

In June, Huggins resigned and retired after a six-week stint that included his use of a gay slur during a radio interview and later, a DUI arrest. A month later, Huggins sued the school and tried to get his job back, saying he never signed the resignation letter. Josh Ehlert, Huggins’ assistant last season, is now the interim head coach.

Earlier this month, the NCAA declined to waive transfer RaeQuan Battle, who averaged 17.7 PPG at Montana State last season but did not earn a degree from Montana State or Washington, his No. 1 school. West Virginia appealed the ruling denying Patel immediate eligibility.

Akok Akok, who previously played at both UConn and Georgetown, is now home and recovering after collapsing in what the school called a “medical emergency” during a charity game against George Mason on Friday.

Chrissa, an Arizona transfer, arrived this season as a potential leader for a West Virginia team that will play its first season without Huggins on the sideline since the 2007-08 campaign.

“I think we’re in a good place right now,” Krysa told ESPN at Big 12 Media Day when asked about his team’s ability to gel during a turbulent period. “I was never worried about team chemistry.”