BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Birmingham school board decided Friday to let basketball star Eric Bledsoe keep a grade that helped him gain NCAA eligibility to play at Kentucky.
Superintendent Craig Witherspoon said a teacher claims Bledsoe completed makeup work to justify a higher grade in an algebra course during the 2008-2009 school year. The mark was switched from an "C'' to an "A."
Witherspoon said an investigation found no documentation to justify the improvement. But, he says, an investigation didn't prove that it was improper, either.
Questions have been raised about high school grades that allowed Bledsoe to qualify with the NCAA to play at Kentucky. Bledsoe left the Wildcats after one season and is now a rookie with the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers.
Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart said the school maintained its reliance on the high school, the university and the NCAA for initial eligibility.
"At no point was the University of Kentucky under investigation by the NCAA nor had any reason to believe we were ever under investigation," he said in a statement.
NCAA spokesman Chuck Wynne told the Lexington Herald-Leader the NCAA plans to review the report and work with Kentucky to determine if there is any impact on Bledsoe's academic standing. The NCAA didn't immediately return an e-mail from The Associated Press.
Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy told AP the school considered the matter closed.
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