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A spirit that is not afraid

Danjel Purifoy still not cleared to play, leaving Auburn shorthanded at guard

<p>Danjel Purifoy (photo via 247sports.com)</p>

Danjel Purifoy (photo via 247sports.com)

For much of the 2015-16 season, the Auburn basketball team has been playing without a full deck.

While most of the shortcomings have been caused by injuries, perhaps the most talented player unavailable to play is on the bench despite being fully healthy.

Danjel Purifoy, a consensus four-star recruit in last year’s signing class, is still waiting on word from the NCAA, which has not cleared Purifoy because the ACT Testing Center is still reviewing his high school ACT score.

On Auburn’s National Signing Day show on Wednesday, Pearl declared Purifoy would be a redshirt freshman next season. The second-year coach said he “probably slipped” in doing so.

“The reality is we don’t have the final word from the NCAA," Pearl said at a press conference on Thursday. "We’re still going through some processes with the testing agency and the NCAA ... Until I can tell you that it’s a done deal, that he is not going to be declared a qualifier and would be eligible for competition, I really can’t say. He’s eligible for practice. He’s eligible to travel. He’s eligible for scholarship. He’s eligible for a lot of things. He’s not been officially cleared for competition, and that’s why we’ve not been able to play him.”

Previously, Pearl said the Hargrave Military Academy product is the best pro prospect on the team. For that reason, Pearl has not ruled out the possibility of Purifoy playing this season instead of redshirting — if he is ruled eligible.

“I’ve always felt that within two years he could be a player that could be good enough to go play professionally,” Pearl said. “If he was a four-year player that never, where there would never be a consideration for leaving early, then I absolutely would not play him. He absolutely would redshirt and there would be no questions asked at this point.”

Pearl said there has been “give and take” between Auburn and the testing center in an attempt to get Purifoy cleared, but it has yet to yield any results.

Purifoy is still eligible to practice and work out with the team, making it all the more frustrating for him and his teammates that he is unavailable to play in games.

“He’s staying positive, helping the team out as much as he can, giving everybody advice, just being a good teammate,” said freshman guard Bryce Brown. “Danjel is a real good teammate. He’s doing a pretty good job handling what he’s going through.”

Purifoy’s absence and the loss of guards T.J. Dunans (knee) and Tahj Shamsid-Deen (shoulder) to injury has left the Tigers shorthanded as they cross the halfway point in the SEC schedule.

Auburn will travel to the University of Georgia on Saturday, looking for its first road win in conference play. Pearl will have four guards available to play in Athens, where the Tigers will attempt to stop a four-game skid.

“We have to go with what we have right now," Brown said. "I think what we have is enough, definitely. We should be fine, but of course it’s frustrating [to be without players], of course. I wish we could have these guys out here, but we have to go with what we have right now.”


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