California's potential top 25 season was put in question Thursday when impact recruit Julian Sensley was denied his appeal to play this season, Cal coach Ben Braun told ESPN.com.

The 6-foot-9 Sensley was expected to replace leading scorer Sean Lampley in the Golden Bears' starting lineup. But now he might not be even on campus for the first semester.

Sensley's standardized test scores were questioned, and the NCAA originally ruled him ineligible earlier in the summer but Sensley and the school appealed the ruling. The initial-eligibility committee ruled on him Thursday, leaving Sensley no other option but to potentially retain a lawyer and go through legal channels if he wishes to play this year.

If he can't get eligible, then he might have to go to another school during the fall semester. Sensley could retake the standardized test to try and get eligible at mid-year to still be an incoming freshman.

Sensley, who played at St. Thomas More Prep (Conn.) the past two seasons, committed to Cal as a rising junior. He was originally from Kailua, Hawaii.

Sensley was part of a stellar recruiting class with impact forward Jamal Sampson and Erik Bond. The Bears, who lost to Fresno State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, return the core of their team except for Lampley. The Bears return their second- and third-leading scorers in Shantay Legans and Brian Wethers.

California is also waiting to see if 6-11 Israeli center Amit Tamir is eligible. The NCAA is looking into whether or not he played with pros in Israel. If he did, then he would have to sit the same amount of games he played with professionals.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.