Calipari ‘fine’ with Skal Labissiere’s status with NCAA

[preacher_tom]

http://ukrecruiting.bloginky.com/2015/10/14/calipari-fine-with-skal-labissieres-status-with-ncaa/

Posted by Ben Roberts at 11:24 AM on October 14, 2015

Labissiere

Labissiere

UK Coach John Calipari made it clear during the first few minutes of his media day press conference that he wasn’t going to go in-depth on the NCAA status of freshman Skal Labissiere.

“Everything is good to go,” Calipari said about Labissiere’s eligibility, before pausing to explain the process of NCAA reviews and pointing out that UK usually has players that aren’t cleared until the last minute. He said there were five such players on last season’s team.

Calipari also said there would be no official word from UK on Labissiere’s status until the first regular-season game against Albany on Nov. 13.

The NCAA is investigating claims made against Labissiere’s guardian, Gerald Hamilton.

Calipari then said he was “fine” with Labissiere’s NCAA status. “We’ll see the first game,” he said.

He also questioned why Labissiere’s status became such a big story before asking reporters to move on to other topics.

“How did this become such a huge … this became like a firestorm,” he said. “Where did this come from?”

 

[gracetoyou]

http://ukrecruiting.bloginky.com/2015/10/14/calipari-fine-with-skal-labissieres-status-with-ncaa/

Posted by Ben Roberts at 11:24 AM on October 14, 2015

Labissiere

Labissiere

UK Coach John Calipari made it clear during the first few minutes of his media day press conference that he wasn’t going to go in-depth on the NCAA status of freshman Skal Labissiere.

“Everything is good to go,” Calipari said about Labissiere’s eligibility, before pausing to explain the process of NCAA reviews and pointing out that UK usually has players that aren’t cleared until the last minute. He said there were five such players on last season’s team.

Calipari also said there would be no official word from UK on Labissiere’s status until the first regular-season game against Albany on Nov. 13.

The NCAA is investigating claims made against Labissiere’s guardian, Gerald Hamilton.

Calipari then said he was “fine” with Labissiere’s NCAA status. “We’ll see the first game,” he said.

He also questioned why Labissiere’s status became such a big story before asking reporters to move on to other topics.

“How did this become such a huge … this became like a firestorm,” he said. “Where did this come from?”

I agree with Cal!! Skal has been a much bigger media story than Diallo. I guess Kentucky is just that much more relevant than Kansas.

 

[Orange Soda King]

I don't think it's anything to worry about. I trust Cal on this one.

 

[musrat59]

I have a feeling that he may have to sit out for several games much like John Wall when he arrived. Hope I am wrong.

 

[Fawrules]

I have a feeling that he may have to sit out for several games much like John Wall when he arrived. Hope I am wrong.

Wall only sat out for two games that season. One exhibition game, and the season opener where we killed Morehead State regardless.

 

[BBUK]

I don't think it's anything to worry about. I trust Cal on this one.

I trust Cal on this one, and another one too.

 

[kyjeff1]

I have a feeling that he may have to sit out for several games much like John Wall when he arrived. Hope I am wrong.

Why do you think that? What information do you have that the rest of us don't have? Based on what we know there is no grounds for suspending Skal for 1 second let alone "several games". Is there some reason you think Skal will be held out or is that just what you feel because you don't trust the NCAA?

 

[CloverforkCat]

He will have to be 'fine' with the NCAA, not like he can do anything to speed up the process !

 

[westerncat]

I have a feeling that he may have to sit out for several games much like John Wall when he arrived. Hope I am wrong.

WHY ? I am like Cal why is such a big deal about Skal ? If Cal is fine with him I have no worries.

 

[Bigkyfan10]

How is it possible that we had 5 players last year?????? We only had 4 new players. Does every player have to get reviewed every year?

 

[WitnessGreatness]

How is it possible that we had 5 players last year?????? We only had 4 new players. Does every player have to get reviewed every year?

Bigger tidbit was that two players weren't cleared until a week before the season. Why weren't they a big deal? Parrish and the Memphis people are the reason this Skal story is such a big deal.

 

[Hoskins21]

I have a feeling that he may have to sit out for several games much like John Wall when he arrived. Hope I am wrong.

You will be wrong. Rumors can't cause a player to sit out.

 

[drbubba]

I don't know why college presidents and ADs don't all get together and leave the NCAA and create a new sanctioning body.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

I honestly feel with the UNC and U of L scandels the NCAA will be real cautious trying to throw Cal under the bus this time.

 

[kyjeff1]

I don't know why college presidents and ADs don't all get together and leave the NCAA and create a new sanctioning body.

Because someone still has to govern college sports and it doesn't matter who that governing body is we will usually not like how they go about their business.
I don't think leaving the NCAA will make things better, it would make things far worse.
My proposal would be to have a Committee made up of retired coaches, or others that know the rules and have been a part of college sports in some fashion, this committee would police the NCAA sort of like a Congress. The NCAA simply has to have someone to answer to.

 

[BostonCat2001]

WHY ? I am like Cal why is such a big deal about Skal ? If Cal is fine with him I have no worries.

why do you think cal would think sitting out 2, 3, or 4 games to start the year is a big deal?

people are acting like skal missing a handful of games to start the year is a terrible outcome. it isnt.

 

[kyjeff1]

why do you think cal would think sitting out 2, 3, or 4 games to start the year is a big deal?

people are acting like skal missing a handful of games to start the year is a terrible outcome. it isnt.

It is, given the information we know he shouldn't have to sit one second.
If something surfaces that we don't know about then you have a point but if the information we currently have is all that there is and he STILL has to sit games than all of us have a reason to be pissed.

 

[ymmot31]

Not one of you people thanked Preacher Tom for the link, or the fact he quoted the story in his post. It wasn't a Tipton article or nothing.

Thanks PT. Good job.

I feel confident about Skal because UK is confident. My only apprehension stems from the seemingly capricious nature of NCAA rulings in the past.

 

[ulismyman]

I dont want players that have to sit out games..not normal

 

[BostonCat2001]

It is, given the information we know he shouldn't have to sit one second.
If something surfaces that we don't know about then you have a point but if the information we currently have is all that there is and he STILL has to sit games than all of us have a reason to be pissed.

but you dont know the information.

 

[BostonCat2001]

I dont want players that have to sit out games..not normal

so if skal has to sit 4 games....you wouldnt want him for the remaining 30+?

seems like a smart position

 

[kyjeff1]

but you dont know the information.

If there was additional information we would have heard something don't you think? We always seem to find out. We knew about Kanter's ordeal and bit our fingernails right down until the NCAA made their ruling and honestly we kinda knew it could go the way it did. He took too much money. Skal didn't take money, if he did we would have heard something about by now.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

so if skal has to sit 4 games....you wouldnt want him for the remaining 30+?

seems like a smart position

The phrase "cutting off your nose to spite your face" applies here

 

[preacherfan]

Because someone still has to govern college sports and it doesn't matter who that governing body is we will usually not like how they go about their business.
I don't think leaving the NCAA will make things better, it would make things far worse.
My proposal would be to have a Committee made up of retired coaches, or others that know the rules and have been a part of college sports in some fashion, this committee would police the NCAA sort of like a Congress. The NCAA simply has to have someone to answer to.

While I understand where you are coming from, I think the NCAA model is broken. For example, UNC was allowed to investigate itself over the biggest academic fraud scandal in history. Yet, here we are on the verge of a bball season and one of the top players in America isn't cleared yet because the NCAA is taking their time.

It isn't like the allegations are new. This should have been taken care of weeks ago. If the NCAA couldn't do it in a timely fashion, maybe an independent investigator could have gotten it done? The NCAA lets UNC investigate itself and then spends time chasing down allegations of a guardian asking for benefits.

Maybe the local cops should adopt the NCAA model and chase down speeders but allow anyone committing more serious crimes to investigate themselves and self-report violations.

 

[BostonCat2001]

If there was additional information we would have heard something don't you think? We always seem to find out. We knew about Kanter's ordeal and bit our fingernails right down until the NCAA made their ruling and honestly we kinda knew it could go the way it did. He took too much money. Skal didn't take money, if he did we would have heard something about by now.

revisionist history.

no one knew the details about kanter until thamel wrote the article. until that point...no one had a clue.

i dont think skal's eligibility is in danger. but i'm not going to pretend to know all the details, what the interviews revealed. how do you know skal didnt take money? you dont. i dont think he did..but i dont know he didnt with 100% certainty.

 

[kyjeff1]

revisionist history.

no one knew the details about kanter until thamel wrote the article. until that point...no one had a clue.

i dont think skal's eligibility is in danger. but i'm not going to pretend to know all the details, what the interviews revealed. how do you know skal didnt take money? you dont. i dont think he did..but i dont know he didnt with 100% certainty.

That's why I said "based on what we know". Not even Pete Thamel is jumping on this one. Like I said, if something new comes out then I agree, sitting some games is fair but based on what we know… no, he should sit ZERO seconds.
Cal and Sandy Bell looked at tge evidence and are confident, that's all the information I need to know.

 

[kyjeff1]

While I understand where you are coming from, I think the NCAA model is broken. For example, UNC was allowed to investigate itself over the biggest academic fraud scandal in history. Yet, here we are on the verge of a bball season and one of the top players in America isn't cleared yet because the NCAA is taking their time.

It isn't like the allegations are new. This should have been taken care of weeks ago. If the NCAA couldn't do it in a timely fashion, maybe an independent investigator could have gotten it done? The NCAA lets UNC investigate itself and then spends time chasing down allegations of a guardian asking for benefits.

Maybe the local cops should adopt the NCAA model and chase down speeders but allow anyone committing more serious crimes to investigate themselves and self-report violations.

Yes but did you see the part where I said that the NCAA needs a Congress? Or it's own boss?

 

[BostonCat2001]

That's why I said "based on what we know". Not even Pete Thamel is jumping on this one. Like I said, if something new comes out then I agree, sitting some games is fair but based on what we know… no, he should sit ZERO seconds.
Cal and Sandy Bell looked at tge evidence and are confident, that's all the information I need to know.

do you know the evidence sandy bell presented?

do you know what sandy bell/cal define as a successful outcome?

if the answer is no to these...you dont really know anything....which is my point

 

[.S&C.]

If there was additional information we would have heard something don't you think? We always seem to find out. We knew about Kanter's ordeal and bit our fingernails right down until the NCAA made their ruling and honestly we kinda knew it could go the way it did. He took too much money. Skal didn't take money, if he did we would have heard something about by now.

Absolutely no. Fans don't have some of this information. I only hope Cal and UK do.

Everyone just needs to relax on Skal and wait. Making yourself feel better by invoking Calipari isn't going to make anything change. Cal would take Skal to get him out of his dreadful situation with Hamilton and practice with him. He wouldn't have to actually play for Cal to waste time on him. Anything at this point is coach speak.

 

[kyups01]

Yeah, because if Cal DID have concerns (which I'm sure he does) he's gonna tell the media and fans about it to cause an even bigger uproar.

 

[.S&C.]

That's why I said "based on what we know". Not even Pete Thamel is jumping on this one. Like I said, if something new comes out then I agree, sitting some games is fair but based on what we know… no, he should sit ZERO seconds.
Cal and Sandy Bell looked at tge evidence and are confident, that's all the information I need to know.

The whole basis is wrong. Cal and Bell might be 80% sure he WONT qualify, and Cal would still take him. For one, If he qulaifies everything worked out great. If he doesn't, humphries gets a year of practicing against the best big man in the country. Skal gets to live an American college dream and gets away from Hamilton. Skal invokes UK around every turn in the NBA, giving us even more pro prospects and more all stars in the league. All of this "cal wouldn't waste time" is complete bullshit and people need to end it. It has nothing to do with it.

I believe he clears eventually, but this is the reality.

 

[Owen68]

I don't think the NCAA is broken. I don't think we need a new organization. I think everything would be fine if Emmert were gone. Why don't the college presidents unite and ask him to step down. Problem solved.

 

[preacherfan]

Yes but did you see the part where I said that the NCAA needs a Congress? Or it's own boss?

Yep, again, I understand where you are coming from. But, from my perspective having been in a similar type of organization, there needs to be a different model. Sometimes starting over is a better way to go.

 

[Dakota25]

I wish that we didn't have to wait until the 13th to officially find out but better at the last minute then never. If UK is confident then I am confident. If he has to sit out then uk has enough good players to win a large number of games and make a fun season.

 

[BostonCat2001]

I believe you are revising history as well, Boston -- understandable, as it has been a while. Here are some facts you didn't mention: By August 2, the NCAA had said Kanter should NOT play in Kentucky's summer games in Canada in 2010 -- clearly signaling by early August that there was a serious investigation. Kentucky had to get an NCAA waiver for Kanter to take part in any pre-season activities, then a second one after he was ruled ineligible to practice on October 2. The Thamel story was on September 2, and supplied details (some wrong, as it was later found) on the amount Kanter received -- but the fact that his eligibilty was in serious doubt for the specific reason that he had played on professional teams in Turkey was known for months before that.

Skal has been practicing and took part in BBM with no waiver and no indication that his status is in question, beyond the fact that he hasn't been officially cleared, like many others.

My point is simply that, as of Midnight Madness, there is no specific, credible information that would suggest a problem for Skal. By the same time, Kanter had been held out for the August exhibitions, then had been ruled out of practice in early October -- though UK did get a waiver to let him take part in BBM.

that you know of....

which is my point. having belief that sandy bell and cal are good at what they do isnt proof of anything on way or the other.

and right now...no one on this board knows all or any of the details uk presented the NCAA regarding Skal's situation.

 

[wildcatwelder]

I firmly believe if there was anything, any evidence, one of the Dirty Dozen: Thamel, Tipton, etc., would have unearthed it and brought it to light.

 

[Aike]

The whole basis is wrong. Cal and Bell might be 80% sure he WONT qualify, and Cal would still take him. For one, If he qulaifies everything worked out great. If he doesn't, humphries gets a year of practicing against the best big man in the country. Skal gets to live an American college dream and gets away from Hamilton. Skal invokes UK around every turn in the NBA, giving us even more pro prospects and more all stars in the league. All of this "cal wouldn't waste time" is complete bullshit and people need to end it. It has nothing to do with it.

I believe he clears eventually, but this is the reality.

I believe this completely. Cal would not have passed up the opportunity to coach Skal unless Cal thought Skal himself were dirty or a problem kid.

I expect Skal to play, but Cal would count him among the fold if he never played a game for us.

 

[BostonCat2001]

Yes, there are things no one knows. But given Skal's profile and Kentucky's giant status in college basketball, its becoming less and less plausible that there is some huge hidden iceberg ready to sink him. You referenced Kanter and said the Thamel story was when his status became questionable. Not so -- the drama played out virtually from the time he committed to Kentucky in April. And he was held out of August activities and had to get a waiver to practice or take part in BBM. Thamel's story in early September only added new details and a dollar figure -- which turned out to be exaggerated by 400 percent. Even with Wall missing a couple games, the details of his mild infraction was out much earlier than this. I can't think of a case ever where a high profile recruit was held out of games and the allegations against him were a mystery at midnight madness.

from the time kanter picked uk to the time thamel wrote his story...i heard fans here say the same thing they are say now. "in sandy bell i trust".

again i dont think skal did anything wrong. i think he will play at uk. but some folks here think there is NO way he would miss a second of time. they act like they know all the details...when asked what those details are...they say, cal and sandy bell arent worried. its not a logical position.

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

I know George Hamilton is a shady mother scratcher. Dude took Skal in hoping the day would come he could make some money off him.

I have a source (I know, everyone has a source a but I really have a close source to this situation) who tells me that as of now, Skal playing at all this year is about 50/50 - depending on who the NCAA is interviewing.

Hamilton did a nice job of keeping Skal away from good folks through his prep days, and he did shop around for cash. His "foundation" maybe did receive some? Can't say for certain, but is a real possibility (hey, didn't go directly to Hamilton, and wasn't given for Skal, but just to help Hamilton in however he needed it to take care of the kids under his roof).

So, is it possible that Skal is determined to be ineligible - absolutely. Is it possible that he misses no games and is good to go from the start - sure. Who is the NCAA interviewing? That is the question that will say for sure.

 

[brianpoe]

I dont want players that have to sit out games..not normal

I don't want posters who make awful comments like this..not normal.