Source: Neal cleared to play

Former La Salle basketball star Gary Neal, who was acquitted of a rape charge in Philadelphia last month and has been attending Towson University for the past two semesters, officially will be cleared to play for the Tigers tomorrow, according to a source close to the situation.

Neal, 21, is expected to begin practicing with the team Monday, and he will be eligible to play in his first game Dec. 21, when Towson plays host to Virginia Military Institute at the Towson Center.

Neal, a 6-foot-4 guard who starred at Calvert Hall and Aberdeen High School, was the Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year. Over two seasons at La Salle, Neal averaged 18.6 points a game.

An administrative committee reviewing Neal's request to play for Towson recommended last week to Dr. Robert Caret, the university president, that Neal should be allowed to play for the Tigers.