West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa won’t make his debut with the school until the 10th game of the season.
The school announced Tuesday
that Kriisa had been suspended for the first nine games of the 2023-24 season after he received impermissible benefits while at Arizona. Kriisa transferred to West Virginia from Arizona in the offseason.
“In late August 2023, West Virginia University learned of a potential eligibility concern for men’s basketball transfer student-athlete Kerr Kriisa, who admitted to receiving impermissible benefits while enrolled at the University of Arizona. West Virginia worked cooperatively with the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff to reach an appropriate resolution.”
The school said that Kriisa would be eligible to practice and travel while suspended and that “he accepts responsibility for his actions at Arizona.”
Kriisa spent three seasons at Arizona and was a two-year starter for the Wildcats. He averaged 9.9 points and shot 37% from the field in 2022-23 as Arizona finished second in the Pac-12 and won the conference tournament. The Wildcats were a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament but lost in the first round to Princeton in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Weeks after the loss, Kriisa announced he was entering the transfer portal and quickly committed to West Virginia and coach Bob Huggins. Huggins resigned over the summer after a drunk driving arrest, and longtime assistant Josh Eilert was named the team’s interim head coach.
Kriisa will be eligible to return on Dec. 16 against UMass. He’ll miss games against Pitt, St. John’s and SMU as part of his suspension.
West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa will finally step onto the court for his new school in the 10th game of the season. However, before this much-anticipated debut, he has faced a hurdle.
The school announced Tuesday
that Kriisa had been suspended for the first nine games of the 2023-24 season due to receiving unauthorized benefits during his time at Arizona. The talented guard had decided to transfer to West Virginia after his stint at Arizona.
“In late August 2023, West Virginia University discovered that Kerr Kriisa, a transfer student-athlete for the men’s basketball team, may have obtained unfair advantages while studying at the University of Arizona. West Virginia University collaborated with the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff to resolve this issue in an appropriate manner.”
Despite the suspension, Kriisa is allowed to participate in team practices and travel. The school has acknowledged that he takes full responsibility for his actions while at Arizona.
During his time at Arizona, Kriisa exhibited his skills as a two-year starter for the Wildcats. He contributed an average of 9.9 points per game and maintained a field goal percentage of 37% in the 2022-23 season. Arizona had a successful run, securing second place in the Pac-12 and emerging victorious in the conference tournament. However, their momentum was abruptly halted when they suffered a surprising defeat to Princeton in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Shortly after this unexpected loss, Kriisa made the decision to transfer to West Virginia, led by coach Bob Huggins. However, Huggins resigned over the summer following a drunk driving arrest. As a result, Josh Eilert, a long-time assistant, has been appointed as the team’s interim head coach.
Kriisa will be able to make his return on December 16, facing UMass. Unfortunately, he will miss several games, including matchups against Pitt, St. John’s, and SMU, as part of his suspension.
Laura Davis covers the world of basketball with precision. Her articles explore NBA and college basketball, offering game analysis, player profiles, and highlights. Laura’s passion for hoops is evident in her comprehensive basketball coverage.
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