TicketsNov. 18, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- University of Cincinnati junior Hernol Hall has been ruled ineligible by the National Collegiate Athletics Association due to his basketball participation in foreign competition.
The NCAA determined that Hall had exhausted his eligibility due to Rule 14.2.3.5, which assesses a season of eligibility for each 12-month period that the individual competed in organized outside competition after the individual's 21st birthday. In addition to his two seasons of junior college competition at Lon Morris College, Hall, 24, played on the Costa Rica national team and on a team in Nicarugua.
The University of Cincinnati filed a waiver to try and have Hall granted relief from 14.2.3.5 (participation after the 21st birthday rule), but that request has been denied by the NCAA's Administrative Review Subcommittee.
Maggie McKinley, UC's Director of Compliance and Student Services, managed the process of appeal on behalf of Hall.
"During the certification process for his eligibility, it was determined that Hernol Hall played in organized basketball competition with Tiburones of Nicarugua and the Costa Rican national team during two calendar years after his 21st birthday" said McKinley. "NCAA Bylaw 14.2.3.5 states that for each calendar year that a prospect participates in any organized competition after their 21st birthday and before their initial enrollment in college, the prospect is charged with a season of eligibility. Since Hernol participated in two calendar years after turning 21 and he competed two years at Lon Morris College, he has exhausted his four years of collegiate eligibility."
"Coach Cronin and his staff were forced to recruit under unusual and exceptional time constraints and we signed nine excellent student-athletes," stated UC Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. "Under even the best of circumstances, recruiting international students presents some very unique challenges. My heart goes out to Hernol and the rest of our men's basketball family who were all under the impression that Hernol had eligibility remaining."
Head Coach Mick Cronin stated, "We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of Hernol's appeal. Hernol is a great player and an even better person and will remain a Bearcat. We will work with him everyday and continue to help him chase his dreams as a student and then as a professional player. Hernol is concerned about his teammates and has been through so much in his life that this is only a minor setback for him. When we told him, his main concern was us, he feels like he let us down, which we told him was not the case. Hernol will have no comment at this time. His entire story is very compelling and he will have his say when he is ready, right now he wants to be with his teammates."
Cronin added that "This is an unfortunate situation to say the least and we are not happy about losing arguably our best player and top recruit. That said, we will continue to work hard and build our program back to national prominence."
UC Athletics is currently waiting on the appeal of a second newcomer, Adam Hrycaniuk, a 6-10, 230-pound forward from Mysliborz, Poland. The NCAA began the process of reviewing Hrycaniuk's appeal on Thursday. "We remain very optimistic about Adam's appeal and hope to have an answer before our next game on Tuesday night against Wofford", said Cronin.
"I want to thank our administration and compliance department for the work they have put in on these cases to help our student-athletes" says Cronin. "Our fans need to know that we have done everything possible to help these guys and despite the outcome of this case our future is bright."