Cronin optimistic Shaq will be cleared

[bearcat jeff]

Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin said he’s optimistic that incoming freshman Shaq Thomas of Newark NIA Prep will be cleared to play during the 2011-12 season.

“Our compliance department is working with the NIA school as well as the NCAA and we’re confident that everything is going to work out,” Cronin told SNY.tv Friday morning.

As first reported Thursday by SNY.tv, the 6-foot-7 Thomas is one of six NIA Prep athletes, including four basketball players, ruled ineligible by the NCAA. Alif Muhammad of NIA Prep said he is appealing on behalf of all six athletes.

Ryan Rhoomes (Texas Christian), Kelvin Amayo (Towson) and Ibn Muhammad (Fairleigh Dickinson) are the other three basketball players.

Muhammad said that since 2006, 28 NIA athletes have qualified to play Division 1 sports.

Sources said Cincinnati has been working with the NCAA on Thomas since August of 2010 because Tim Thomas, Shaq’s uncle and a former NBA player, initially wanted Shaq to enroll as a redshirt freshman for the 2010-11 season. Tim Thomas was not immediately available for comment.

It is possible that some combination of the four basketball players could get cleared, and others could not.

“One guy could get cleared, and another could get denied,” a source with knowledge said.

Meantime, NIA features other high-major players in Darrick Wood and Mike Taylor whose status remains up in the air because the NCAA is looking at NIA.

Neither Wood nor Taylor were immediately available, but Muhammad told SNY.tv that the 6-foot-4 Wood has over 50 scholarship offers and planned to remain at NIA next season.

The 6-3 Taylor, meanwhile, needs a high school diploma, Muhammad said.

“He has the classes, but he didn’t receive a diploma from Boys and Girls [High],” Muhammad said of the former Rutgers pledge. “All he has to do is come here and once he’s here he gets that diploma.”

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/08/19/cincinnati-optimistic-nia-preps-thomas-will-be-cleared/

 

[K-Mart2008]

According to Zags Blog: "A source close to the situation said Cincinnati hopes to learn Thomas’s fate next week."

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Another player lost their appeal, but I don't believe he took summer classes like Shaq. Props to the UC staff, they were prepared for this situation.

 

[K-Mart2008]

Yeah, the kid from NIA who was going to Towson lost his appeal. Seems like Cincinnati is ahead of the game on this one. I hope so.

 

[Bearcat04]

Shaq is eligible, but he must sit out until Winter quarter starts. That's what I'm guessing Zagoria means by 2nd semester.

Breaking-Shaq Thomas can receive a scholarship to Cincinnati But may start 2nd semester. More to follow.
10 minutes ago

http://twitter.com/#!/AdamZagoria/status/113357844740440064

 

[JasonS]

Shaq is eligible, but he must sit out until Winter quarter starts. That's what I'm guessing Zagoria means by 2nd semester.


http://twitter.com/#!/AdamZagoria/status/113357844740440064

This is probably about as good as we could have hoped. Good work by UC's compliance department to have all their ducks in a row.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Shaq Thomas confirmed the news by text but said he would miss the first quarter of basketball, which ends Dec. 10, but would not miss any school.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/09/12/cincinnatis-shaq-thomas-cleared/#more-57687


I'm just happy he will be in school when classes start next week.

 

[K-Mart2008]

Yes, this is good news! Welcome to UC, Shaq!

 

[bearcat jeff]

We are pleased to announce that NCAA is allowing Shaquille Thomas to attend University of Cincinnati as a full-time student. It was the great work of University of Cincinnati's Compliance Dept.: Mick Cronin, Head Coach; Larry Davis, Associate Head Coach, Special note - In particular, Tim Thomas; Shaquille's Uncle and former NBA Player

For example, the recruitment of Shaquille Thomas involved a minimum of 50 conversations to NIA, along with a visit from head coach Mick Cronin, and three (3) visits from his assistant coaches to the NIA School. University of Cincinnati in their due diligence requested and received copies of all Shaquilles work, i.e. syllabi for each course, coursework, daily & evening sign-in attendance sheets.

http://njhoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1265798

 

[TheLongHaul]

Great work by the staff.

I'm still hoping this means he will be eligible for fall semester.

 

[anbuc88]

Cronin and the coaching staff has been decidedly quiet about his status since the story broke that he will be allowed to start classes at UC as a full time student beginning this fall. It is likley that they are still waiting for clarification from the NCAA whether he will be eligible to join the team when practice begins next month. Regardless, it is a testemant to the staff that they were proactive and able to secure a favorable verdict from the NCAA. We very easily could be in the position of St.Johns if the compliance dept weren't on top of things.

 

[JasonS]

@AdamZagoria Cincinnati signee Shaq Thomas of NIA Prep will sit the year with a redshirt unless he gets a waiver from the NCAA.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

I'm confused. So is UC deciding to redshirt him because he won't be eligible until Winter quarter or has something changed?

 

[TheLivingLegend]

hmmm. didnt livinglegend claim he would redshirt many many months ago.

 

[JasonS]

I'm confused. So is UC deciding to redshirt him because he won't be eligible until Winter quarter or has something changed?

My understanding is that UC doesn't want to waste a year of his eligibility if he won't be eligible until Big East play.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

My understanding is that UC doesn't want to waste a year of his eligibility if he won't be eligible until Big East play.

I can understand that logic, he's undersized as it is and bringing him in midway through the season when (hopefully) the team's chemistry is already set and fluid won't allow him much playing opportunity. Question though, is he allowed to practice with the team until he becomes eligible or must he sit through that as well? If he can't practice I definitely don't see a need to bring him on in January.

 

[JasonS]

I can understand that logic, he's undersized as it is and bringing him in midway through the season when (hopefully) the team's chemistry is already set and fluid won't allow him much playing opportunity. Question though, is he allowed to practice with the team until he becomes eligible or must he sit through that as well? If he can't practice I definitely don't see a need to bring him on in January.

I believe he can practice but just can't play.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

I believe he can practice but just can't play.

That would be my thought as well since he's allowed in class. Plus I remember when Lance was waiting eligibility they were allowing him to practice when they weren't sure if he would be eligible. They wouldn't do so if him practing while ineligible would have been against the rules.

 

[BearcatAlum1]

Another positive would be to balance the classes. I would rather him play this season if he could play the entire season or 75% of it.

Shaq now moves to 2012. That would make a 3 man recruiting class for 2012.

Also, this would be the 3rd year in a row that a player was redshirted under Cronin. Could we see Guyn or JD redshirt?

 

[JasonS]

Another positive would be to balance the classes. I would rather him play this season if he could play the entire season or 75% of it.

Shaq now moves to 2012. That would make a 3 man recruiting class for 2012.

Also, this would be the 3rd year in a row that a player was redshirted under Cronin. Could we see Guyn or JD redshirt?

I would be surprised if Mick wants 2 players Red Shirted. Frankly, PG is the weakest spot on the team in terms of depth and you can never completely tell which freshmen will adjust to college ball and how soon. I think you will see Guyn and JD both play this year.