The NCAA has declared Kansas guard Milt Newton ineligible to play in the first two games of the 1987-88 basketball season, KU athletic director Bob Frederick announced Friday.
Newton, a 6-4 junior from Washington, D.C., will miss tonight’s exhibition game against the Italian National Team and the opening round tontest of the Maui Classic on Nov. 27 against Chaminade.
The NCAA based its ruling, Frederick said, on the handling of billing for personal travel between Newton and a travel agency.
On three occasions, the university’s athletic department collected payment from Newton for personal airline travel, then forwarded the money to the travel agent.
The NCAA ruled it was inappropriate for an institution to act as a collection agent for student athletes.
Frederick said the university reported the incidents to the NCAA.
Newton, who averaged 3.6 poings as a reserve guard last season, will be allowed to practice with the team and will be eligible for the remainder of the season, beginning with the second game of the Maui Classic.
