Kentucky, Memphis prospects face eligibility issues
With two of the top recruiting classes expected to debut abroad this month, eligibility issues have become somewhat of a stumbling block for the Kentucky Wildcats and the Memphis Tigers.
The NCAA’s eligibility centre has not cleared two of the league's top prospects, University of Kentucky’s Enes Kanter and Memphis’ Will Barton, to play, jeopardizing their plans to accompany the teams as the play exhibition games in Canada and the Bahamas.
Kentucky coach John Calipari announced earlier this week that while 6ft 9in Turkish-born Kanter had been cleared with regards to academic eligibility, but the NCAA was concerned about his amateurism credentials. CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish reported that Kanter has faced “extensive questioning” regarding his playing for a professional team in Turkey before immigrating to the United States.
Kanter, projected to be a top five pick in the 2011 NBA draft, stunned other top prospects at Nike Hoop Summit in April, posting 33 points and 13 rebounds before the day was through. Scouting reports have him going as high as number one in the draft and many have speculated that his college debut could see better numbers than John Wall’s outstanding rookie season, though these eligibility issues have called that into question.
Kanter refutes the claims, saying he turned down an offer from the Turkish team in order to maintain his eligibility. Calipari has said that he expects Kanter to be cleared in time for the regular season but has only until 14 August to clear the process if he wants to travel with Kentucky to Canada.
Meanwhile in Memphis, freshman guard Barton has been deemed academically ineligible, not only threatening his hopes of travelling with the team to the Bahamas but his entire season with the Tigers.
A source close to the Tiger’s program told ESPN that Barton has been practicing with the team and that Memphis is looking into whether he can continue practicing even if he is not cleared to travel. This is the first year the NCAA has allowed freshmen to accompany teams abroad should they clear eligibility by passing credit hours in summer school.
Like Kanter, Barton is projected to be a key asset for a Tigers program that missed the NCAA tournament last season after back-to-back runs that resulted in a championship game loss and a Sweet Sixteen appearance. Scouted as a “lethal scorer,” Barton’s transition game has come highly touted and his ability to put in threes made him a likely candidate to replace Elliott Williams, Memphis’ leading scorer from last season who has moved on to the NBA.
The eligibility centre is primarily concerned with Barton’s attendance at four different high schools before arriving in Memphis. The NCAA red flags any player that attends multiple high schools as they are concerned with disciplinary issues along with academic ability.
Should Barton not be cleared to play this year, his options are limited but not entirely detrimental to his future in the NBA. Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial Appeal notes that “if he is not cleared to play this season, it is unlikely he will ever see the court for Memphis. Barton would have opportunities to play in Europe or the NBA Developmental League next season before entering the NBA draft next June.”
Regardless of where he chooses to play, Barton is likely to still be a first round selection come 2011.
"It don’t get no worse than this,” Barton posted on his Twitter account Wednesday morning. “The hardest thing I ever had 2 face is here. Need vision cuz everything blurry now. Where do I go from here?"
Memphis is also waiting to hear about the eligibility status of three other freshmen, including Barton’s brother, Antonio. Four others have already been cleared by the eligibility centre and will accompany the Tigers to the Bahamas later this month.
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