NCAA grants ASU's Shaquielle McKissic a sixth season

Arizona State basketball received good news Friday morning: The NCAA granted a sixth season of eligibility for forward Shaquielle McKissic, giving coach Herb Sendek a second returning starter from last season's team that won 21 games and reached the NCAA Tournament.

Student-athletes have five years to complete four years of eligibility, but ASU felt like the 6-foot-5 McKissic had a unique case because of his background. His basketball career at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Wash., was interrupted for several reasons, some out of McKissic's control and some not. He had legal obligations to complete after an attempted-burglary arrest, a stretch that included jail time. McKissic's mom also moved out of the area, leaving him homeless. He slept in his car at times, working odd jobs to pay for his tuition, determined to turn his life around and play major-college basketball.

Entering last season, McKissic was pretty much an unknown. He had put up big scoring numbers his final season at Edmonds, but had just one year of eligibility, which scared off several schools. At ASU, he started slowly, but gained confidence as the season unfolded and averaged 9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He attacked the basket from the wing and often guarded the opponent's top perimeter player. After practice, McKissic almost always seemed to be the last player in the gym, working on his game. Former associate head coach Eric Musselman called the forward's work ethic and improvement one of the highlights of the season.

McKissic will join senior Jonathan Gilling and junior Eric Jacobsen, who split time last season at power forward, as returning starters. ASU has 11 scholarship players in place for next season. The Sun Devils, who lost their top three scorers, are working to add two more players.