CofC's Baru Cleared To Play By NCAA - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

College of Charleston's Adjehi Baru has been cleared to play by the NCAA.

Baru, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound freshman big man out of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is the highest-ever rated player in program history. As a senior at The Steward School in Richmond, Va., he averaged 19.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per game.

Baru was rated the No. 26 overall prospect by Rivals.com, No. 29 overall prospect by Scout.com and No. 46 overall prospect and the third highest-rated big man in the Class of 2011 by ESPN College Basketball Recruiting. He possesses a 7-foot-5 wingspan and has already been tabbed Southern Conference Newcomer of the Year by several preseason polls and annuals.

"I am very happy for our team and Adjehi Baru," CofC Head Coach Bobby Cremins said. "Adjehi Baru is an outstanding young man and an excellent student. Our director of compliance, Otto German, did a great job of gathering information and we are very appreciative of the NCAA's decision."

The Cougars will open up the 2011-12 season with an exhibition game scheduled against Queens University of Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. (ET) at TD Arena.