Shabazz Muhammad ineligible for UCLA's opener

• Shabazz Muhammad won't play in UCLA's opener Friday, as the NCAA has not ruled him eligible.
• NCAA says star freshman accepted improper benefits while in high school.
• UCLA athletic director intends to challenge the NCAA's decision.

Shabazz Muhammad will miss the UCLA Bruins' season opener Friday against Indiana State after the NCAA determined he had accepted extra benefits.

The NCAA has ruled Muhammad ineligible for the time being for allegedly accepting improper benefits, writing in a statement he "accepted travel and lodging during three unofficial visits" to two colleges during his recruitment. The NCAA also said it did not receive requested information regarding Muhammad in a timely fashion.

"The university and the NCAA enforcement staff agreed on the set of facts in the case, which led to the determination that a violation occurred," the NCAA wrote in a statement. "NCAA member schools have established standards to determine when an individual may provide financial assistance to student-athletes. These criteria, which were not met in this case, are in place to identify when benefits are provided based on a student-athlete's athletic ability.

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said he disagreed with the NCAA's ruling.

"We are extremely disappointed that the NCAA has made this determination," Guerrero wrote in a statement.

Guerrero added that the school would challenge the ruling.

Fellow freshman forward Kyle Anderson was cleared by the NCAA on Oct. 31 after being investigated for potential violations of amateurism as well.