LSU’s Javonte Smart cleared to play in SEC Tournament

The LSU Tigers have given Javonte Smart the green light to play in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals after issuing a statement this morning.

This comes just one day after head Will Wade’s request to resume his duties as head coach.

Smart was the player Wade was caught discussing directly on FBI Wiretaps.

LSU held both Wade and Smart out of the Tigers season finale against Vanderbilt last Saturday, but they now believe there has been no wrongdoing on Smart’s behalf, so he’s now allowed to play.

As for Wade, his request to resume coaching has yet to be approved, so it seems as if he will still be kept off the sidelines until further notice.

In Smart, LSU gets a significant boost. The guard averaged 11.5 points per game this season including a 15 point performance on March 6th against Florida who they will play today in the SEC tournament quarterfinals.

Smart’s return can only help the Tigers, but with the distractions of this scandal, it’s hard to believe it won’t affect the team on the court.