Sophomore Chris Obekpa will serve a suspension spanning Tip-Off and the two exhibition games to open the season due to a “University policy violation,” the team announced Friday evening.

The 6-foot-9 center will be allowed to practice throughout the preseason and will be reinstated for the first regular season game on Nov. 8 against No. 21 Wisconsin.

“We expect our student-athletes to conduct themselves in a responsible manner in representing St. John’s University,” head coach Steve Lavin said in a statement. “Chris understands this suspension can serve as a learning experience.”

Obekpa led the NCAA in blocks-per-game with an average of 4.03 during his freshman season last year.

The suspension comes after junior D’Angelo Harrison finished last season away from the program for conduct detrimental to the team before being reinstated prior to St. John’s European tour this summer.

A St. John’s spokesman said Lavin would speak to reporters following Friday evening’s Tip-Off festivities.