The NCAA reported Tuesday that Jeff Jordan is ineligible for the first two games of Illinois’ college basketball season after playing in a non-sanctioned tournament last summer.

The junior guard left the team in June to focus on his academics, but he decided to rejoin the Illini on Oct. 16 for Illini Madness and the 2009-10 season. Upon returning, Jordan had a compliance check with the NCAA, in which he voluntarily wrote down a non-sanctioned tournament he played in during the summer after he quit the team, an Illinois spokesman said. At the time, he didn’t believe there was anything wrong with it.

When Jordan began his career at Illinois, his eligibility clock as an NCAA athlete began, and thus all NCAA regulations applied to him, even if he were to transfer schools or quit the team. NCAA rules state any tournament played — whether it’s a summer league challenge or a 3-on-3 tournament — must be certified by the NCAA prior to being held. Jordan’s tournament was not, and he didn’t find this out until his paperwork was returned.

In Illinois’ exhibition win against Quincy on Sunday, Jordan played 19 scoreless minutes, picking up four assists. He will sit out the Illini’s season opener against Southern-Illinois Edwardsville on Friday and Tuesday’s game against Northern Illinois.