Grand Canyon University cleared for D-I play by NCAA

Grand Canyon has been granted Division I active membership by the NCAA following a four-year transition period.

Aug 23, 2017, 1:39 PM Updated: 2:24 pm

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

PHOENIX (AP) — Grand Canyon has been granted Division I active membership by the NCAA following a four-year transition period.

The school said it was informed by the NCAA on Wednesday and will begin Division I play in the 2017-18 season.

It's official! GCU is NCAA Championship ready. Thank you Lopes family for making our four-year Division I transition a success. #LopesRising pic.twitter.com/3zrNQqO9Lr

— GCU Lopes (@GCU_Lopes) August 23, 2017

Grand Canyon went 81-46 in four seasons under coach Dan Majerle, the best record among 36 schools that transitioned to Division I since 2000. The Antelopes are one of six teams to have a winning record during its transition in that span.

Grand Canyon played a Division I schedule in the Western Athletic Conference last season, but was not eligible for the NCAA Tournament. The Antelopes are expected to be immediately competitive in the WAC after Majerle, a former Phoenix Suns forward, brought in a strong recruiting class.