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Friday, January 12, 2001
Shimonovic University of Hawaii freshman post player Haim Shimonovic today was declared eligible by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and will rejoin the Rainbow Warrior basketball team for the Feb. 15 home game against Southern Methodist.
gets go-ahead
from NCAA
The freshman post will
rejoin the Rainbows for
Feb. 15 SMU matchupRainbow woes continue
By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin"We're very happy with the decision and glad it's finally over,'' Hawaii basketball coach Riley Wallace said early this afternoon. "And Haim's relieved. We now know what we have to look forward to. Having a great kid in the program for five games of this season, the (Western Athletic Conference) tournament and three more years after that.''
Questions arose over the summer regarding Shimonovic's eligibility due to his participation in Israel's Division I league. The 6-foot-10 Shimonovic, from Rishon, LeZion, Israel, participated in the league while serving in the Israeli army.
The NCAA determined that, although Shimonovic received no payment from the league other than out-of-pocket expenses, Division I is considered a professional league. The NCAA penalty is 22 games, amounting to the number of games he played in the Israeli league and the two preseason exhibitions he played in for Hawaii (California All-Stars on Oct. 31, and Hawaii-Hilo Nov. 12).
The university self-reported the potential violation last fall. The NCAA will be looking at the issue of foreign recruits participation in their domestic leagues this April.
"What the NCAA determined is that there was a violation because he did play in a professional league,'' said Wallace. "It could have a been a lot worse. There was the possibility that he would have lost his entire eligibility. "His parents were here for Christmas break and saw how everyone cared about their son and what a safe environment it was for him. They went back to Israel and made sure we got the proper documentation.''
Shimonovic, who had been penciled in for a starting spot, scored 7 points and had 10 rebounds over 37 minutes in the exhibition games. He will be eligible to play against SMU (Feb. 15), Rice (Feb. 17), TCU (Feb. 22), San Jose State (March 1), UTEP (March 3) and the WAC Tournament (March 7-10 in Tulsa).
Hawaii (6-8 overall, 0-3 WAC) will try to end its four-game skid tomorrow night against Tulsa at the Stan Sheriff Center.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
