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Felix Balamou, the athletic fourth-year wing from Guinea who has been nursing an injury, will not be available because of an NCAA violation.
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St. John's did not specify the nature of the violation in the press release, but indicated that the school will seek reinstatement.
Source: Felix Balamou violation was pre-existing issue with previous staff leaked to NCAA. Goes back ta few years. #sjubb
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) November 13, 2015
Balamou is permitted to practice with St. John's while awaiting reinstatement; he will join partial qualifier Marcus LoVett, Kassoum Yakwe (waiting on the NCAA's eligibility ruling) and Tariq Owens (sitting out the year due to NCAA transfer rules) to form a potent practice squad.
Balamou averaged 1.6 points per game in limited minutes over the past three years, but the 6'4" wing had an opportunity to earn major minutes on a St. John's squad that is low on experience. The Red Storm have eight scholarship players available tonight and walk-on Elijah Holifield, who played well in the preseason.
The Red Storm face the Wagner Seahawks tonight at 6:00 pm, using the preseason loss to St. Thomas Aquinas as fuel to help them focus and learn how to compete on the Division I level quickly.