UM Reinstates DeQuan Jones

Jones could rejoin the Canes as soon as Thursday

The Miami Hurricanes will get a familiar face back as soon as Thursday's game at Charlotte. UM announced Tuesday evening that forward DeQuan Jones has been reinstated to the team. He had previously been suspended for the entire season due to his alleged dealings with rogue booster Nevin Shapiro.

"The University of Miami, after consultation with the NCAA, has announced that senior basketball player DeQuan Jones can return to competition immediately," the University said in a statement. "In order to protect the integrity of the ongoing joint inquiry, the University will not comment further at this time."
 
According to the Yahoo! Sports' investigative report that first broke the details of the Shapiro scandal, former UM assistant coach Jake Morton requested $10,000 from Shapiro in 2008 to solidify Jones' commitment to attend UM.
 
Yahoo's report stated that Jones returned the money to Shapiro in 2010 after receiving several angry phone messages from him. 
 
Jones, a senior, was the only current UM basketball player tied to Shapiro in the Yahoo report. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in limited minutes. 
 
Jones has not spoken publicly about his suspension being lifted, but his attorney Jason Setchen told the Miami Herald Tuesday, "DeQuan and I are ecstatic that the University and NCAA have reevaluated this case and have come to the conclusion that there is insufficient evidence to support his suspension."
 
Setchen said Jones was "overwhelmed with joy" when he found out he could rejoin the team, with whom he had been practicing during the beginning of the season. 
 
"He couldn’t wait to get reunited with the team," Setchen added. "He looks forward to playing and taking a leadership role."
 
The 6-4 Canes face Charlotte on Thursday, but Jones was not with the team when they flew to Charlotte Tuesday. UM associate athletic director Chris Freet told the Herald, "UM is going to do everything to get him up there for the game."
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