Scholarship proposal unlikely to help

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001 | 11:46 a.m.

Because of NCAA sanctions, UNLV's men's basketball team probably won't benefit from a proposed modification of the so-called 5/8 scholarship rule.

In fact, it might hurt the Rebels by suddenly giving other schools an extra scholarship for 2002, causing greater recruiting competition as UNLV tries to sign its final prospect for that season.

In a proposal recommended Tuesday by the NCAA Management Council, schools would be able to give nine new scholarships over the two-season period of 2001-03 -- one more than currently allowed -- with no more than five in one year.

The current 5/8 rule, instituted only two months ago, would return for the 2003-04 season, along with a sketchy formula to help teams recover scholarships to replace underclassmen who leave in good academic standing.

The proposal will be considered Nov. 1 for final approval by the Division I Board of Directors.

However, because NCAA- and self-imposed sanctions limit UNLV to 11 scholarship players this season and next -- two less than the maximum -- the Rebels will likely be able to award only three grants in 2002, with eight scholarship underclassmen returning.

The Rebels gave five scholarships this year, but unless an underclassman transfers, they probably can't give four next year.

"We need to check the details and technicalities," assistant coach Derek Thomas said. "This doesn't appear to help us at all, in light of our scholarship limits. It helps schools that didn't have any scholarships left for next year. They can jump back in on guys we're recruiting."

The two-year switch to 5/9 is designed to smoothen schools' transition to 5/8 compliance in 2003. Some schools that lost multiple underclassmen to the NBA are well below 13 scholarships this season. Arizona has 10 scholarship players, Michigan State eight.

Two of the Rebels' scholarships for 2002 are spoken for. They signed Georgetown transfer guard Demetrius Hunter, and next month they will sign Juco forward James Peters from Butler County (Kan.) Community College. They're seeking another big man with the final scholarship.

In other NCAA proposals recommended: