NCAA denies Florida State basketball player Baba Miller's waiver, suspends him for first 16 games

Florida State forward Baba Miller will have to wait a bit longer to take the court. The NCAA denied his waiver, meaning he’s suspended for the first 16 games of the season.

Miller broke NCAA rules received travel to and from Spain to the United States before Florida State started recruiting him, the Seminoles said in a press release Friday. His family repaid those expenses after learning of the rule and FSU filed an appeal of the suspension.

The NCAA announced the decision Friday, which said Miller can still practice with the team, but must sit out 50% of the games on Florida State’s schedule.

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FSU athletic director Michael Alford voiced his displeasure with the decision in a press release.

“I am very disappointed with the committee’s decision based on the facts presented,” Alford said in a statement. “The decision seems disproportionate and inconsistent in today’s modern environment. It’s unfortunate that Baba will have to endure this penalty.”

Miller was a highly touted recruit out of Spain, coming in as a four-star recruit and the No. 86-ranked player from the class of 2022, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was part of an impressive recruiting class by coach Leonard Hamilton, which ranked No. 34 in the country, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking.

Florida State also had another top-100 recruit coming in as part of the group. Four-star guard Chandler Jackson came in closely behind Miller as the No. 88 prospect in the nation, per the On3 Consensus.

The Seminoles are gearing up to start the 2022-23 season against Stetson Nov. 7. Miller’s collegiate debut is currently set for Jan. 11, 2023 against Wake Forest.