TicketsDec. 5, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Adam Hrycaniuk will not be eligible to compete for the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team this season but will have his eligibility restored for the 2007-08 campaign.
The NCAA ruled that Hrycaniuk, the Bearcats' 6-10 center from Mysliborz, Poland, will be required to sit out the 2006-07 season due to amateurism issues involved with international competition. Hrycaniuk will have one season of eligibility remaining.
The decision was made by the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff and upheld by the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee.
Hrycaniuk played 39 games as a member of a professional team Poland prior to coming to the U.S. and entering junior college. Individuals on the team, on which Hrycaniuk competed as an amateur, were paid above normal expenses, triggering the NCAA's definition of a professional team.
"Adam's participation on Spojnia Stargard over the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons triggered a violation of 12.2.3.2," stated UC Director of Compliance Maggie McKinley. "Adam himself never received any compensation above and beyond actual and necessary expenses nor did he sign a contract with an agent or the team in Poland. The violation occurred because at least one of his teammates was paid above and beyond actual and necessary expenses, thus triggering the NCAA definition of a professional team.
"The NCAA issued a directive in January 2006 for those student first enrolling at a NCAA institution for the 2006-07 academic year," McKinley explained. "Specifically, the amateurism guideline for competition on a professional team while in high school is a one-for-one withholding condition, not to exceed one season. Adam competed in a total of 39 games on what was determined to be a professional team by the definition set forth by the NCAA. Therefore, Adam was reinstated for eligibility to compete for the University of Cincinnati, on the condition that he be withheld from competition for one academic year and lose a season of eligibility."
Hrycaniuk enrolled at UC for the 2006 Summer term and has been practicing with the team. He averaged 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks last season at Trinity Valley Community College where he earned all-region honors. He came to the U.S. in 2004 and played his freshman season at Barton County Community College.