(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)
Update: This Mike DeCourcy piece on Kanter was written before the NYT story broke, but provides some interesting context, nonetheless.
And just like that, the high-flying aspirations for Kentucky’s 2010-11 basketball season has encountered some thick clouds of uncertainty.
The New York Times has posted a story tonight in which the manager of the Turkish professional team for which Enes Kanter played claims the Turkish team paid the UK freshman over $100,000 in cash and benefits.
An excerpt:
In an interview in his office here this week, the general manager of Fenerbahce Ulker, Nedim Karakas, said the club had given banking and housing records to the N.C.A.A. that show Kanter received benefits that could jeopardize his amateur status for college basketball.
“I am sorry for telling this for Enes, but we cannot lie if someone asks the whole story, we cannot hide,” Karakas said.
Karakas said that Fenerbahce provided housing to Kanter and his family for more than three years, provided them with food and pocket money and paid Kanter a salary of more than $6,500 a month during his final season.
The Times does report that Karakas was unhappy about Kanter’s departure and stands to benefit if Kanter is declared ineligible, as his club would get a transfer fee if Kanter played for another European team next season. But Karakas told Pete Thamel of the New York Times that the issue is more a matter of telling the truth.
If the NCAA confirms Karakas’ claims — the manager said he provided the NCAA paperwork — it could mean that Kanter would be ruled as a professional and not eligible to play college basketball in the United States. Last year, the NCAA suspended West Virginia’s Deniz Kilicli when it was learned that the Turkish team he played on included a professional player who was receiving money. Kilicli was not ruled to have taken money himself.
If Kanter is indeed ineligible, it would be an obvious blow to a 2010 Kentucky recruiting class judged by most analysts as to be the nation’s best. For openers, Kanter might well be the best player in the country next year. Doug Gottlieb of ESPN recently blogged that Kanter would be the first pick in next year’s NBA draft. Plus, Kanter and Josh Harrellson are the only two post players on the UK roster. If Kanter cannot play next season, or is suspended for a long period of time, it makes a smaller Kentucky team (compared to last year) that much more guard-oriented.
Just this morning, John Calipari had told reporters he hoped to hear something about Kanter’s eligibility in the next 10-14 days.
So is this the case of a disgruntled manager trying to get back at his former player?
Or is it, as Karakas insists, the truth?
The NCAA will have to decide.
Hilarious that it is our old friend Pete Thamel reporting this. The man flew all the way to Istanbul to try and finally nail down UK, after his Bledsoe story made about as much impact as a fart in the wind.
Whatever happens glad it will be cleared up before he were to have played in games.
I hope it is not true, but if it is, I hope that UK President and Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart have the guts to sit down and have a chat with Calipari. Calipari needs to be told that these type of antics will end and end now. The players who come to play at UK do not deserve this type of distractions every single year.
This type of behavior which puts Kentucky Basketball at risk is simply unacceptable. You are asking season ticket holders to open their wallets and pay incredible increases to even have the right to buy tickets, but not requiring a coach to live within the rules, not just skirt them. I am damn near fed up and hes only been here a year. I want a coach above reproach, not one who lives on the line!
As far as size on the roster: let’s not forget that Kentucky went 27-5 (and won the S.E.C. championship!) in 2003-2004 with a 6’8″ forward playing at center (Erik Daniels). It’s true that the 2003-2004 team had great leadership (Chuck Hayes, for example), and a lot of intangibles that made the team memorable, but I don’t think the question is, “Can we win without a seven footer?” but “Who are going to step up and be the Chuck Hayeses and Kelenna Azubuikes and Gerald Fitches of this team?” Miller and Liggins are going to have to take a big time leadership roll. It’s a shame about Kanter, but if the freshmen play to potential, and the veterans take on a leadership roll, we will be a force in the SEC and we’ll be in the national mix. Go Wildcats!
Season ticket holder, ha.
Whatever happens the NCAA will have to do something it hates to do, explain in full and completely the reasons behind the decision it makes.
Given the new rules in place this will be a landmark case.
Because of the conflict of interest in this matter for the team and G.M. and the track record of the reporter I’d be very hesitant to believe a lot of what is being said. The personal remarks made at the end of the story spoke a lot to me about the attitude of the Turkish team.
The kid refused to sign a deal anywhere and it’s clear he wants to play college basketball, it appears the Turkish federation after months of stonewalling want to ruin him because he’s certainly not going to return to play for them in any case.
As everyone knows however, the NCAA does not care about the welfare of the athlete… just to keep safe their billions of dollars coming in at their expense. That’s the scary part, the fact that the kids future is in the hands of these individuals with very little knowledge of how the real world conducts itself.
Mark Liptak
The motive to lie by the Turkish team seems pretty high. And I don’t think much of Turkey anyway since that country broke its promise with the US to allow a northern front during the Iraq war.
Yes, these two stories are clearly related.
I hate to let Kanter go, but at this point I think it is probably best. We know that the NCAA can’t be trusted to abide by their own decisions on eligibility.
The NCAA apparently had no problem ruling that Derrick Rose was ineligible after originally clearing him to play, then it punished Memphis despite that clearance. I fear we would see the same thing happen if any new information comes out after Kanter starts playing.
I know the Turkish team has a great incentive to stick it to Kanter and UK, but that won’t excuse UK in the NCAA’s eyes down the road if something does come up. I just don’t think it’s worth the risk.
Thank you for reporting what the paper said, instead of Jerry Tipton writing this like he was at the interview and that these are straight facts.
There is a good chance that Enis took money, however, we don’t know the truth. If he is ineligible; that’s the way it is going to be. UK was recruiting this kid based on the information they had in hopes he could play. There is nothing wrong about this. Tipton needs to join the New York paper.
These are some very good comments. No true haters yet. If the NCAA rules Enes eneligible it don’t mean it’s the end of the world for UK bbl. I do agree with the comment that was made about coach Cal needs to be more careful about sticking the schools neck out with foreign players. We do spend a lot of money for our CATS. Lets keep bleeding blue and beating loserville and we will be just fine. GO BIG BLUE.
First question why was there no proof of payment shown!Why would Kanter need money his father is wealthy,he’s a doctor.Innocent until proven guilty! Show me the evidence Turkey.
I could care less. We pay Cal to win. Get the players, and let the NCAA hash it out. You don’t think UK basketball will accept “mid-level” talent do you? We get the best, because we are the best, and the world is a messy place – not our fault. Go Cats.
WHEN YOU RUN WITH DOGS-YOU GET FLEAS!!!!