Arizona guard Allonzo Trier granted approval to play by NCAA

Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier has been cleared for participation by the NCAA and will play in the Wildcats’ Thursday night contest against Stanford.

We just received word that Allonzo Trier has been cleared for participation and will play in tonight’s game versus Stanford. We appreciate the NCAA granting this appeal and their understanding of this unique situation. #BearDown pic.twitter.com/bndabnHHb7

— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 2, 2018

Trier missed Arizona’s last two games after a late January drug test showed trace amounts of the same substance that kept him out of 19 games in the 2016-17 season.

The university released a statement in January following the NCAA’s ruling on Trier’s eligibility, saying that an “amount detected was miniscule by scientific standards and appears to be a remnant of a substance, which the NCAA agreed, Allonzo had unknowingly ingested in 2016.”

The school said they would appeal the decision, and were informed today that the NCAA had granted the appeal, making Trier eligible going forward.

The junior is averaging 19.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game this season. He has yet to play a full season since suffering a hand injury during his freshman season and missing time last year due to the drug suspension.

Trier’s eligibility comes shortly after Arizona coach Sean Miller held a press conference discrediting a Feb. 23 report by ESPN that said the coach had been heard on FBI wiretaps discussing payments to secure a commitment from now-freshman Deandre Ayton.

After a meeting with the Arizona Board of Regents Thursday afternoon, University of Arizona president Robert C. Robbins and athletic director Dave Heeke said head coach Sean Miller would rejoin the team for Thursday night’s game against Stanford after missing the team’s overtime loss to Oregon on Saturday.

“At this time, we have no reason to believe that Coach Miller violated NCAA rules or any laws regarding the allegation reported in the media,” Robbins said after the meeting Thursday.

“I made the decision to move forward with Coach Miller as our coach,” he added.

Both Miller and Trier will return for Arizona’s matchup with Stanford Thursday night. With a win, the Wildcats would be crowned the Pac-12 regular season champions.

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