Star Providence Freshman Ricky Ledo Ineligible To Play In Games This Season

Ricky Ledo, one of the crown jewels of Providence coach Ed Cooley's elite recruiting class of 2012, will not be suiting up for the Friars this season.

The NCAA has ruled that Ledo, who attended four different high schools over a five year period, is allowed to be on scholarship and practice with the Friars, but that he cannot play in games during his freshman season. According to the Providence Journal, Ledo began classes at PC this week and plans to remain at the college and play for the Friars in 2013-14.

The NCAA cannot comment on eligibility rulings. Providence College coach Ed Cooley said Ledo "is in good spirits. He's appreciative of being here but he knows he has work to do. This is a great opportunity for Ricky."

The bad news for Ledo, who was rated as the class of 2012's sixth-best player by Rivals.com, is the latest in an offseason that has been chock full of it for Cooley's top-10 recruiting class.

In June, Kris Dunn, the top-rated point guard in the 2012 class, underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. While it appears unlikely that he will be redshirted, Dunn figures to be sidelined for at least the first month of the season.

Classmate Ian Baker wishes he was so lucky. The fellow freshman point guard tore his ACL this summer and will not be suiting up for the Friars this season.

All told, there are major issues surrounding three-fourths of the recruiting class that was supposed to lift Providence basketball back into the national conversation.

The Friars went 15-17 in 2011-12 and won just four games in Big East play. PC fans had been hoping that this recruiting class could help lead the team into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.