Lawyer: Six Wofford players reinstated amid improper benefits ordeal

A lawyer representing six Wofford men's basketball players who faced suspension said Friday that they have been reinstated.

It is the latest twist in a strange scandal that began last week with Wofford firing head coach Dwight Perry and associate head coach Tysor Anderson.

After The Field of 68 reported Thursday that the NCAA suspended six players for receiving improper benefits, the NCAA's official X account responded to deny the report.

"This is not accurate," the account said in a pair of posts. "The NCAA did not suspend student-athletes at this school and did not take any action against any athletic department personnel at this school."

Attorney Mark Peper then told multiple outlets Friday that the six players have been "reinstated," effective immediately.

Peper told The Field of 68 this week that six players who were supposed to be placed in upperclassman dorms at Wofford were instead put in underclassman dorms.

Anderson asked the players "if they wanted to keep their current dorm assignment or rent an apartment off campus and pay for it themselves," Peper said. "They chose the latter, and Coach Anderson properly informed administration of their plan to do so."

Then, the players were told they became ineligible by using their campus meal plans while living off campus, according to Peper. Wofford self-reported the infractions to the NCAA.

The charges per player ranged from $84 to $108, leading to public outcry in an age where college basketball players are earning NIL money and participating in revenue sharing with their schools. Additional reports said that Perry and Anderson covered the rent until their players' NIL checks came through, when they could reimburse the coaches.

Peper told media outlets that the players in question wanted to play for Perry and would seek to transfer if he and Anderson are not reinstated by the school.

Perry, 37, was promoted from associate head coach to head coach at Wofford in 2022. He led the Terriers to the Southern Conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth last spring.

--Field Level Media