Appeal Denied for Georgia’s Williams

A second appeal for the eligibility of Georgia freshman basketball player Ezra Williams has been denied by the NCAA.

The university said Thursday that the denial permits Williams to remain in school as a regular student during the spring semester, but will not allow him to participate in sports until next fall.

Coach Jim Harrick said Williams had done everything to become eligible and “to deny him that right is a severe injustice, in my opinion.”

Williams was first denied eligibility by the NCAA on Dec. 6 when it determined he had not fully met graduation requirements from high school. It was learned he failed to pass the science portion of the state’s graduation test. Williams passed the science test in November.