No immediate eligibility for Perez; WVU to appeal

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.– The NCAA has rejected a waiver for instant eligibility for guard Jose Perez at West Virginia, guys’s basketball coach Bob Huggins revealed Friday.The 6-foot-5 Perez moved from Manhattan after his coach, Steve Masiello, was fired by the Jaspers on Oct. 25, 2 weeks prior to the start of the season. Perez registered at West Virginia in November for the spring semester.Huggins stated West Virginia prepares to appeal the NCAA’s decision. Perez is qualified to begin practicing with the Mountaineers on Dec. 17.”We are dissatisfied by the news that we got

this afternoon from the NCAA,”Huggins said.”All of Mountaineer Basketball is hurting for Jose. ” Before transferring, Perez was selected as the preseason Gamer of the Year

in the City Atlantic Athletic Conference. He averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds last season.Perez spent 2 seasons at Gardner-Webb and one each at Marquette and Manhattan.On Twitter, Perez said Friday that”

I did nothing but put my blood sweat tears into that college location was house and due to them firing essentially a coach who took me in as his son just got no words … not going to state excessive.”