Saturday, October 30, 2010

John Calapari on the Enes Kanter situation

***Following was taken from USATODAY.com written by Jack Carey****

Kentucky and coach John Calipari still are awaiting word from the NCAA on the eligibility status of prized frontcourt recruit Enes Kanter, who has not been practicing with the Wildcats in the preseason.Kanter played as a youth for the senior club of Fenerbahce Ulker, a team in a Turkish professional league. The team's general manager told The New York Times last month that Kanter and his family were paid more than $100,000 in salary and expenses by the club.
The NCAA is reviewing the matter to see if Kanter received impermissible benefits.
"The NCAA is not working against us or this young man," Calipari reiterated Thursday at Southeastern Conference media day. "This is a hard decision. He played for the club when he was 14, 15 and 16. They know that. They also know that with the decision they make, with (another) kid in a similar situation, (this ruling) is going to be it. If the kid is a really good player, the club is not going to cooperate. So, they're going through their process.
"It's been tough on the kid. The kid is like, 'What is this all about?' Because he knows he did things right. So, I want the NCAA to get it right. Because it's not going to just affect this kid. Any good player that wants to come over, who are on those clubs, it's going to affect every one of them. So, get it right, whatever we're going to do."
Calipai said Kanter has had his own training regimen away from the team, although he's living and socializing with other members of the Wildcats. "They're all picking each other up," he said. "All I told him is, 'Be in great shape. Train like you're going to the Olympics.' "

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