Saturday, December 1, 2001
[ UH BASKETBALL ]
It's been 30 days since the NCAA Board of Directors approved several changes for college basketball -- including penalties for participation in what it considered foreign professional leagues -- but Hawaii is still awaiting word on two of its athletes. UH’s wait reaches a month
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comLuc-Arthur Vebobe participated in 11 games in a French pro league, according to the paperwork submitted by Hawaii to the NCAA. The ruling from the NCAA was to have players sit out 20 percent of the number of pro games or a maximum of eight; in Vebobe's case, it would be 2.2 games.
The 6-foot-9 forward has now missed six games as the Rainbows opened the season 5-1.
And, 30 days later, there is still no word on Vebobe. Nor on senior guard Predrag Savovic, whom UH officials contend did not violate amateur rules while playing in a top-level league in his native Yugoslavia. The all-conference player and the team's leading scorer last season says he did not knowingly compete with pros; the NCAA says he should have known.
Savovic has also been held out of Hawaii's first six games. If the eight-game penalty is enforced, Savovic would miss the Rainbows' next two games -- against Alcorn State on Dec. 10 and San Diego State on Dec. 14 -- and be back for the Rainbow Classic opener against Portland on Dec. 19.
The delay is as annoying to Rainbow coach Riley Wallace as the bronchitis he has been plagued with the past few days. Considering his team had Wednesday and Thursday off, Wallace couldn't even enjoy the time away from the gym.
The Rainbows were back at it yesterday as the coaching staff continued the task of working out the kinks in the offense and defense.
Also yesterday, Wallace had hoped to hear something from the NCAA, at least on Vebobe. The French pro league in which Vebobe participated is under re-examination and may be deemed not a pro league.
"But he's already missed the 2.2 we had asked for," said Wallace. "What we are prepared to do next week is declare him and Savo ineligible so that we can submit the paperwork to have them reinstated after they sit out the eight games.
"The letters (to the NCAA) are ready to go out and, if we hear nothing, they'll go out next week."
No decision has been made as well on the status of freshman 6-8 freshman Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan of Nigeria, whose arrival at an Alabama high school is now being questioned.
There have been reports that a player broker may have been involved and Wallace said financial records have been requisitioned to make sure he did not receive any monetary aid outside of his immediate family.
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