Hofstra guard Shaquille Stokes granted immediate eligibility by NCAA

Shaquille Stokes, the former high school player of the year in New York City, will be able to play immediately for Hofstra after transferring home to be closer to his family.

Stokes, who led Lincoln High to a 2011 PSAL Championship, played his freshman year at Hawaii, but wanted to transfer back to be in New York due to his grandmother's illness. The 5-foot-10 point guard from Harlem averaged 8.4 points in his only season at Hawaii, but quickly began speaking to head coach Gib Arnold about leaving the school to be with his family. He announced he would transfer in April, and after picking Hofstra, applied for a hardship waiver to make him eligible immediately. The request has been granted and he will retain three years of eligibility.

Hofstra only won three games in the CAA last year and 10 overall, but head coach Mo Cassara has convinced talent from a variety of other schools to join his program. In addition to Stokes, UConn transfer Jamal Coombs-McDaniel, Penn State transfer Taran Buie, and Fresno State transfer Daquan Brown will play for the Pride for the first time this season. Stokes will likely come off the bench behind senior starter Stevie Mejia.