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Wednesday, December 20, 2000

Rainbows waiting
on Shimonovic

The NCAA has the
paperwork for the UH
freshman from Israel

UH basketball playbook

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By Dave Reardon
Star-Bulletin

The University of Hawaii has made its case.

Now it must wait for the NCAA to make a decision on the eligibility of freshman men's basketball center Haim Shimonovic.

"My guess is that within the week we will hear something," Rainbows' coach Riley Wallace said yesterday.

"We're pretty sure we've done everything and that it will work out."

Shimonovic's eligibility became an issue because the NCAA is looking closer at the leagues foreign athletes played in before joining U.S. college teams.

Shimonovic reportedly played in a semi-pro league in his native Israel, but never received money for playing basketball.

As a member of the Israeli army, he was not allowed to be paid to play basketball, Wallace said.

Shimonovic was slated to start at center for Hawaii this season, but has been held out of any game action.

UH sent four letters to the NCAA in an attempt to prove Shimonovic's amateur status. The letters are from the league he played in, the Israeli army, the president of his club team, and the coach of the team.

Hawaii (2-3) plays Georgia State (7-1) in the first round of the Nike Festival tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu