WSU committee rejects Valentine Izundu’s appeal to transfer

PULLMAN – A three-person faculty committee rejected Washington State center Valentine Izundu’s appeal during a hearing on Wednesday afternoon, barring the player from contacting San Diego State University on the grounds that Izundu and the SDSU coaching staff had contact before the season was over.

Izundu, who has stated his desire to graduate and transfer to another school to play his senior season, maintains that he had no contact with the Aztecs’ coaching staff during a spring break trip to San Diego. On that trip, Izundu attended SDSU’s NIT game against IPFW.

The committee, made up of faculty members who do not work in the athletic department per NCAA rules, upheld the original decision on the grounds that “the committee felt that tampering has taken place (improper communication through a third party),” saying it was the key factor in the decision.