The athletic department suspended Hermann Opoku, a freshman on the basketball team, for 11 games after investigating his play on a team that may have included professionals in Austria, GW’s director of athletics told The Hatchet Friday.

Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz said he has information that Opoku, who was between 14 and 16 years old at the time, was not paid to play for the team. GW is taking the “high road” by preemptively suspending the freshman, Kvancz said.

GW could be in violation of NCAA rules if Opoku were paid to play on that team. The athletic department has been investigating the matter for about five months, Kvancz said.

“By doing this, we won’t have the problem in the middle of the year if something turns up,” Kvancz said. “He didn’t commit murder, he didn’t commit burglary, his character is outstanding.”

The suspension is the second time in two years that GW has suspended a men’s basketball player for an apparent breach of NCAA rules. Pops Mensah-Bonsu was suspended last season after questions surfaced about his actions when he declared for the NBA draft.