Thursday, November 1, 2001
Savovic, Vebobe The waiting game will be over today for Hawaii's Predag Savovic and Luc-Arthur Vebobe as well as some 300 other foreign basketball players at U.S. colleges.
to learn of
their fates
The NCAA board of directors
rules on foreign athletes todayBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comThe NCAA board of directors will rule on the penalties, if any, for those found to have violated the amateurism rule by competing in leagues with professional players. Today's decision will take effect immediately.
The penalties could range from light to severe, depending on whether the board goes with the recommendation by its management council or the one from the Student Athlete Reinstatement Committee. Last week, the council endorsed a maximum penalty of 20 percent or eight games; the committee wants a game-for-game sit-out sanction for players in first division leagues, a 1-for-2 penalty for second division leagues and a 10 percent penalty for lower leagues.
"Like (Western Athletic Conference commissioner) Karl Benson said, it's too close to call," Rainbow coach Riley Wallace said. "You really can't predict what they will do. We know Luc-Arthur's situation -- he played in 11 games. But we don't know what they'll do with Savo."
Wallace said UH has recommended no penalty for Savovic, a 6-foot-6 senior guard who transferred in from Alabama-Birmingham as a sophomore. Prior to enrolling at UAB, the Yugoslavia native competed in a tournament that included professionals.
Savovic said he was not paid, did not have a pro contract and was unaware of which players were being paid. However "lack of knowledge" is not part of the evidence being considered by the NCAA for sanctions.
Ever since the focus on foreign players intensified last March, Savovic has been one of the higher profile players, continually mentioned in national wire, magazine and Internet reports. He led the Rainbows in scoring last season and was a first-team all-WAC selection.
Vebobe, a junior transfer from Foothill (Calif.) College, likely would be penalized 1-2 games. The 6-9 native of France played in 11 games in a European pro "A" summer league.
Players can appeal any penalty.
"If it's an unjust ruling, we'll appeal," Wallace said.
Savovic has said he would consider legal action. Last spring, UH retained the services of a mainland firm and there has been recent contact with at least one local firm.
There is concern by the NCAA that endorsing the lighter penalty will lead to lawsuits from players who sat out portions of last season. Hawaii sophomore forward Haim Shimonovich was penalized 22 games last year.
Had Shimonovich chosen to redshirt last year, his case would be among those being currently considered.
Exhibition time: All foreign players under NCAA scrutiny have been cleared to play in exhibition games.
Hawaii's one exhibition will be Nov. 11 against the EA Sports West All-Stars (formerly the California West All-Stars). Tickets for the 7 p.m. game at the Stan Sheriff Center are $8 for lower level, $6 for upper level and $4 for students and seniors. Exhibition games are included in season ticket packages.
Injury update: Sophomore forward Phil Martin's ankle injury was diagnosed as a 2-plus degree sprain. Martin is in a cast and expected to be out up to four weeks and likely will miss the Nov. 11 exhibition and the Nov. 16 season opener against Norfolk State in the Nike Tip-Off Classic.
Senior forward Mindaugas Burneika, out the past two weeks with an ankle strain, has been cleared to practice. He returned to the Gym II workouts yesterday.
Rank and file: Who knows best, coaches or writers? Two weeks ago, the WAC basketball coaches picked Fresno State to win the league, with Hawaii second.
This week's issue of Street & Smith has Hawaii No. 4, behind Fresno State, Tulsa and UTEP. S&S also has outdated information, mentioning Bosko Radovic and David Hilton being on the team, and misspelling Mike McIntyre's last name.
Basketball News has Hawaii at No. 7.
ESPN.com's WAC preview will be out on Nov. 7.
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
