LSU guard Javonte Smart has been cleared by LSU in conjunction with the NCAA to play for the duration of the Tigers' stay in the NCAA Tournament, which begins Thursday against Yale at 11:40 a.m. in Jacksonville, Florida, on truTV.
Smart, whose recruitment by LSU in 2017 has been under an inquiry by LSU and the NCAA since a Yahoo Sports story on March 7 about LSU coach Will Wade's tactics involving Smart, was cleared by LSU and the NCAA last Friday. But that was only for that day's game in the Southeastern Conference Tournament against Florida.
The Tigers (26-6) lost that game before receiving a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday to play No. 14 seed Yale (22-7).
"We have cleared Javonte to play today (only) due to the fact that there have been no findings to date. The inquiry is not closed," LSU associate athletic director Robert Munson said Friday.
Munson said Monday there still have been no findings or irregularities with Smart's recruitment by Wade, but the inquiry is ongoing. Smart, though, will remain cleared to play unless LSU or the NCAA gleans something new that is against NCAA rules or irregular about Smart's recruitment.
"Yes. He's been cleared. He's been cleared. He's ready to go. Until we're told otherwise, we're going to be preparing him to be ready to play," LSU interim coach Tony Benford said Monday morning on an SEC teleconference.
Benford said LSU had informed him that Smart was cleared for the rest of the NCAA Tournament.
"There shouldn't be any issue with his status," Benford said.
Many LSU fans on social media and some media mistakenly said Smart had been cleared for the remainder of LSU's postseason last Friday before the SEC Tournament game against Florida. But LSU's release from the sports information department made it clear that was not the case then, but it is now.
"LSU has cleared freshman Javonte Smart for today's game against Florida," the release said Friday. "Though the inquiry is not closed, after multiple additional interviews, there has been no wrongdoing identified to date. As a result, and because of his full cooperation and transparency in this matter, Smart has been cleared by university officials for play on Friday."
If LSU beats Yale on Thursday, it will play Saturday against either No. 6 seed Maryland (22-10) or one of two No. 11 seeds — Belmont (26-5) or Temple (23-9). Belmont and Temple play in the "First Four" preliminary in Dayton, Ohio, today at approximately 8 p.m. with the winner playing Maryland on Thursday after the LSU-Yale game.
Benford replaced Wade, who was indefinitely suspended by LSU on March 8, because of the story by Yahoo Sports, which has been detailing the federal investigation of college basketball corruption for more than a year.
In the Yahoo story, Wade is quoted from an FBI wiretap talking about a "deal" and an "offer" for Smart in the summer of 2017, when Smart was one of the top point guards in the nation at Scotlandville High near Baton Rouge. Wade remains indefinitely suspended, as he has chosen not to cooperate or speak to LSU or the NCAA regarding its inquiry, which is in direct contradiction of Wade's contract.
Smart was held out of LSU's regular season finale March 9 as LSU and the NCAA conducted its investigation, which included several interviews with Smart and members of his family last week. He continued to practice with the team leading up to his reinstatement last Friday. Smart scored 13 points in LSU's 76-73 loss to Florida on Friday. He has scored double figures in five straight games and in six of LSU's last seven games.
On the season, Smart is averaging 11.5 points and 2.4 assists a game.
"He's ready to go," Benford said. "We're looking forward to having him."
Should LSU advance out of Jacksonville, it will play March 29 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The Final Four is in Minneapolis, April 6-8.