KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The NCAA and Southeastern Conference have cleared forward Jarnell Stokes to play at Tennessee.
The 6-foot-8, 250-pound Stokes was ranked as one of the top prospects from Tennessee for the 2012 incoming class. He graduated in December from Memphis' Southwind High School and selected Tennessee over Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky and Memphis.
Volunteers coach Cuonzo Martin said Stokes would practice with the team Monday but wouldn't play until he showed he was physically ready for competition. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association rules prevented Stokes from playing basketball in the fall after he transferred from Memphis' Central High to Southwind.
Martin says it's unlikely Stokes will play this week as Tennessee (8-7, 1-0) travels to No. 20 Mississippi State on Thursday night and hosts No. 2 Kentucky on Saturday.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
