Miami Hurricanes Basketball: Center Reggie Johnson Has Been Declared Ineligible

The Miami Hurricanes basketball program just received devastating news as their top player in center Reggie Johnson has been declared ineligible by the university.

According to the report, Johnson's family had received travel benefits that the school said were taken care of by a member of former coach Frank Haith's staff. This is not good news for the university and isn't any better for a basketball team that is on the bubble as far as making the NCAA tournament.

Miami is hoping for a speedy decision by the NCAA for when Johnson can return to the court.

"In the process of the ongoing joint NCAA-UM inquiry, it was discovered that members of Johnson's family received impermissible travel benefits from a member of the former basketball coaching staff,'' the university's statement said. "Johnson was unaware of the benefits and his family was told they were permissible by that member of the former basketball coaching staff."

This is more bad news for the University of Miami, as they are currently dealing with an ongoing investigation involving former and current football players and Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro. While these two incidents are likely not related, it's still unwanted attention for a university that is currently dealing with a scandal already.

Johnson will not play in tonight's key game against the Florida State Seminoles and won't take the court until the NCAA figures everything out and makes a decision.

Johnson averages 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds a game and is a huge part of this team on both sides of the ball. He missed the first nine games of the season with an injury, and the Hurricanes struggled to a 5-4 record in his absence. Since then the team is 11-6, including a huge win over the Duke Blue Devils where Johnson was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Hurricanes. 

Frank Haith is currently the head coach for the Missouri Tigers and has yet to comment on the situation.

Randy Chambers is a B/R featured columnist. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail].