Syracuse, N.Y. — One Syracuse University basketball freshman has been cleared by the NCAA, while another still awaits word from the NCAA Clearinghouse on his status for this season.

Center Chinonso Obokoh learned the NCAA had cleared him over the weekend, but fellow freshman Tyler Roberson continues his daily check-ins with the NCAA website to learn his Orange fate.

Roberson, a 6-foot-9 forward, said by telephone that he hopes to hear within the next few days from the NCAA Clearinghouse, which determines the eligibility of college freshmen. Neither Roberson nor Obokoh were permitted to practice or play with their new teammates when the Orange worked out and then embarked on its four-game exhibition schedule in Canada.

SU coach Jim Boeheim said today that Obokoh is in Syracuse taking classes. Roberson remains in New Jersey. SU would need to learn that Roberson was cleared this week, Boeheim said, since classes started Monday.

Roberson — the New Jersey high school player of the year — was required to take classes at Roselle Catholic this summer to fulfill degree requirements, which he said likely contributed to the delay from the NCAA Clearinghouse. Roberson and his AAU coach, Sandy Pyonin, said they believed Roberson would ultimately be cleared and play for the Orange this season.

"I'm pretty positive that it'll work out," Roberson said. "All I can really do is wait. But I think it'll work out, yeah."

"He's fulfilled all his requirements. He's in good shape," Pyonin said by telephone. "He's really worked hard with his tutors and his classes. I feel good about everything. ... It's going to get done. The NCAA, they take their time. Coach Boeheim, Coach Hopkins told us, 'This is how the process goes.'"

Roberson said he was "a little disappointed" to miss the trip to Canada. Three of the five SU freshmen were able to practice for a few days and then play exhibition games with their new teammates. Roberson remained in New Jersey, where he worked on his game and played in the East Orange Pro Am league.

Roberson said he logs onto the NCAA website several times each day with the hope of learning his clearance status. The NCAA, he said, does not contact athletes directly to inform them. He said he has considered other possibilities should the NCAA rule that he is ineligible to play for SU this season.

"I have other options" he said, "but it's not something I've put too much thought into because I think that I will be cleared. I'm pretty positive, but if it doesn't work out, I have a backup plan."

Roberson said he believed he could catch up with classes or assignments he misses this week while he awaits word from the NCAA.

Bishop Kearney coach Jon Boon theorized that the delay with Obokoh stemmed from his status as an international student (Nigeria) who arrived at Kearney for his sophomore season. Boon said there were no issues with Obokoh's SAT score or his grade point average at Kearney. And unlike Roberson, Obokoh took summer classes at SU.

"It would have been nice if he played (in Canada)," Boon said, "but I don't think that actually will hurt him. The coaches can start working with him now. He'll be OK as long as he's healthy. He had a foot issue that bothered him most of his senior year. He didn't practice a whole lot so as to not aggravate it."