Houston Cougar basketball incoming freshman Danrad "Chicken" Knowles will not be able to play in the 2012-13 season, it was announced on Saturday. Knowles will remain in school, and will have four years of eligibility remaining starting with the 2013-14 season.
Knowles, along with fellow freshman and AAU teammate Danuel House, were both ranked among the top 50 recruits nationally, and both stunned the recruiting world by turning down several offers from major programs to stay home with the Cougars.
Houston is in desperate need of a breakout season after two brutal seasons under head coach James Dickey, and the loss of Knowles for the year won't help, but expectations will still be high.
The Cougars will still feature House, ranked the #20 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com, as well as super sophomores TaShawn Thomas and Joseph Young. Big-bodied J.J. Richardson, a Pittsburgh transfer, becomes eligible as well, after sitting out a transfer year.
While it's certainly not good news to lose Knowles for the year, a player who would have certainly contributed immediately, it should benefit Knowles (who weighs in at just 190 pounds despite his 6'10" frame) to have a year of college strength and conditioning under his belt before he hits the court.