The school said on Tuesday that guard Kerr Kriisa, a transfer from Arizona, will serve a nine-game ban this season after he acknowledged receiving improper perks while a member of the Wildcats.

Kriisa, who finished the previous season at Arizona averaging 9.9 points per game and 5.1 assists, remained committed to West Virginia following Bob Huggins’ resignation and retirement last summer due to a DUI conviction.

“In late August 2023, West Virginia University learned of a potential eligibility concern for men’s basketball transfer student-athlete Kerr Kriisa, who admitted to receiving impermissible benefits while enrolled at the University of Arizona,” the statement continued. “To find a suitable alternative, West Virginia collaborated with the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Staff. Kriisa’s reinstatement of eligibility will include missing nine (9) regular season games in 2023–2024 due to his activities. During his absence from competition, Kriisa will be permitted to practise and travel with the team. He acknowledges that he made mistakes at Arizona and is eager to go back on the court with his Mountaineer teammates.”

Kriisa’s admission will not impact Arizona, which is under probation for three years following the Independent Accountability Resolution Process decision on the NCAA infractions case against the university.

According to West Virginia’s statement, it learned about Kriisa’s possible infractions in August.

“Upon learning of a potential NCAA issue with a former men’s basketball student-athlete after they left the University of Arizona, the athletics department worked collaboratively and transparently with the NCAA and West Virginia University in their review of the matter. The review confirmed there was no involvement from any Arizona Athletics staff members or coaches,” Arizona said in a statement on Wednesday.

“As part of their evaluation, the NCAA determined that the University of Arizona’s compliance systems and education met or exceeded their standards and national best practices. The University of Arizona received no penalties or corrective actions as a result of the NCAA’s evaluation. The athletics department will have no further comment on the matter and wishes the former student-athlete the best moving forward.”