Transfer Nears Playing for 49ers

The long-awaited debut of Ike Nwankwo at Long Beach State may finally happen next week.

Nwankwo, a 6-foot-11 senior who transferred to Long Beach State from UCLA, has not been able to play because all of his official transcripts have not been received.

One transcript for a communications class has been held up because Nwankwo still owed UCLA money, reportedly $1,800.

Long Beach State men’s basketball Coach Lee Morgan said Nwankwo, who had been trying to collect the money to pay UCLA in one lump sum, got the school to agree to accept installment payments.

Now the only problem left for Nwankwo is time, Morgan said.

If Nwankwo fails to get the transcript to Long Beach by noon today, Morgan said, he could not file it with campus officials until Jan. 2, when the school opens again.