Advertisement

Top 2018 player Marvin Bagley awaits eligibility ruling at Sierra Canyon

Sierra Canyon's Marvin Bagley (center) watches as the team competes at the Hoophall Classic. (Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports Images)

Sierra Canyon’s Marvin Bagley (center) watches as the team competes at the Hoophall Classic. (Photo: David Butler II, USA TODAY Sports Images)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) transfer Marvin Bagley III was on the bench but not in uniform at the Hoophall Classic on Monday.

The 6-11 Bagley is waiting to see if he will be ruled eligible by the CIF Southern Section after transferring from Hillcrest Prep in Arizona.

“We’re hoping to hear by next week,” Sierra Canyon coach Ty Nichols said. “It’s just a matter of the CIF making the home visit to make sure the move was legitimate. They’re treating him like any other kid who’s transferring and there’s something like 512 school districts in the state, so it takes time. We were hoping he would be eligible for this week.”

Bagley is ranked as the No. 1 player in the Class of 2018 by most recruiting services and moved to Southern California in late December.

After he left Hillcrest in mid-November, he was taking NCAA-approved online courses in order to stay on track academically. Hillcrest Prep basketball program director Matt Allen said he recently sent a letter to the CIF in support of Bagley.

Bagley led Tempe Corona del Sol to a state championship last season as a freshman but transferred when Hillcrest hired his father as an associate coach.

If he becomes eligible, Bagley would join Nevada signee Devearl Ramsey and a top 60 junior in forward Cody Riley. Ira Lee, ranked as the No. 34 junior, recently left the program.

More Hoophall Classic