SMU basketball is losing an important part of its 2016 recruiting class.
Four-star center Bruno Fernando committed to SMU on April 1, but did not sign a letter of intent when the late signing period began on April 13. On Friday night, Fernando played with his old AAU team, E1T1 United, in an AAU tournament in Hampton, Va. Seniors who are committed or signed cannot play in such events.
A Friday report from MADEHoops’ Pat Lawless confirmed that Fernando is not signing with SMU and will return to Montverde Prep (Fla.) for a post-graduate year, making him part of the 2017 recruiting cycle. He could still sign with SMU in 2017, but he is no longer committed for 2016 as of now.
Fernando was one of two four-star big men in SMU’s recruiting class, according to the 2016 247Sports composite rankings. The other, DME Academy (Fla.) center Ted Kapita, has also yet to sign his letter of intent. Since he has already done a post-graduate year, he would have to go the junior college route or turn pro if he does not sign.
Typically, situations like Fernando’s happen because a player cannot qualify academically, meaning he could not meet the NCAA’s test score or GPA requirements, or he was denied admission to the school. They happen every year. Kapita had to do the post-grad year at DME because he could not qualify at Arkansas, where he originally signed in 2015. Former California signee Tyson Jolly, whom SMU had offered out of high school, also had to do a post-grad year instead of play for the Golden Bears in 2015-16. He is now signed to play for Baylor starting in the fall. Former Syracuse signee Moustapha Diagne did not qualify to play in 2015-16 and had to go to junior college.
