NCAA Approves Waiver for Cincinnati Forward Aziz Bandaogo
Wes Miller and the Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team received some great news on Monday afternoon with the NCAA’s approval for the waiver of senior forward Aziz Bandaogo.
Bandaogo joined the Bearcats after stints with both Akron and Utah Valley and while the NCAA initially denied Bandaogo’s waiver to play, the organization reconsidered and approved the waiver for the senior forward.
Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller voiced his disappointment in the NCAA denying the waivers for two of his star players, Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds every chance he had this season, and despite the uncertainty surrounding Reynolds’ waiver, the NCAA must’ve been listening.
Miller mentioned at Big 12 Media Days the clear and obvious flaws with the NCAA’s approval process saying, “What’s even more heartbreaking is the recent announcement by the NCAA Division I Board of Directors that it would review existing rules and guidelines to improve the transfer process for 2024-25. If change is needed, why wait and continue to harm current student-athletes? Aziz and Jamille deserve to play college basketball for the University of Cincinnati this season, and we will continue to fully support them.”
While Jamille Reynolds’ situation is still up in the air, the addition of Aziz Bandaogo is big for the Bearcats as they have one of their biggest bodies back on the court. Bandaogo averaged 11.5 points and 10.4 rebounds last season with the Wolverines and now will have an opportunity for a fresh start in a new league taking the court for the first time as a member of the Big 12 Conference.
