Illinois St. frosh MiKyle McIntosh ruled non-qualifier by NCAA

Illinois State, which only brings back two players from a season ago, saw prized freshman MiKyle McIntosh ruled ineligible on Thursday.

Illinois State freshman MIKyle McIntosh has been deemed a non-qualifier by the NCAA and will have to sit out this season, sources told CBSSports.com.

McIntosh, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Canada, is not allowed to play or practice for the Redbirds this year. He will have four years to play beginning in the 2014-15 campaign.

McIntosh played for 22 Feet Academy (Ky.) last season, but also attended Christian Faith Center Academy (N.C.) in the past. Christian Faith, run by Ro Russell, is the same high school that Xavier Rathan-Mayes attended before Huntington Prep (W.Va.). Rathan-Mayes was ruled a non-qualifier at Florida State this season.

This is a tough loss for Illinois State, which is still without suspended Daishon Knight and also saw freshman Deontae Hawkins ruled ineligible. Head coach Dan Muller brings back just two players who saw extended minutes last season: guards Nick Zeisloft and Kaza Keane.

McIntosh was expected to make an immediate impact, as schools like UCLA and Miami – and even Kentucky – were interested at one point in his recruitment.