Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Tuesday, November 21, 2000
The NCAA eligibility of Hawaii freshman basketball player Haim Shimonovic remained at issue last night, and it appears he may be held out of more games before resolution. Shimonovic status
still uncertainBy Dave Reardon
Star-BulletinShimonovic was expected to start at center for UH in its season-opening game against Louisville last Friday. But Shimonovic sat on the bench in street clothes.
He participated in practice yesterday, but did not work out with the first team.
Shimonovic played in an Israeli league last year while serving in the Israeli army. According to published reports, professionals play in the league, but Shimonovic was not paid.
UH officials and coaches declined to comment, citing privacy issues. But sources said the school is trying to document information from the Israeli league and supply it to the NCAA to clarify Shimonovic's status.
Jane Jankowski of the NCAA's enforcement department acknowledged yesterday that Shimonovic's eligibility is at issue, but offered no other comment.
TIP-INS:
Coach Riley Wallace started the same five all last season, but that possibility for this year will likely end with Friday's game against Southeastern Louisiana at the Stan Sheriff Center -- for most of yesterday's practice, the first unit included Bosko Radovic and Mike McIntyre, joining first-game starters Predrag Savovic, Troy Ostler and Nerijus Puida. Wallace said that is a likely starting five for Friday, though not etched in stone. ... Former Rainbow forward Ales Zivanovic was at practice yesterday. He leaves next week for a pro league in Iceland.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
