NCAA OKs waiver; Turner cleared to join Rebels

Steve Addy

Friday, Sept. 14, 2001 | 9:54 a.m.

Perhaps a new era of harmony has dawned between the UNLV men's basketball program and the NCAA.

Or maybe the NCAA simply decided that Ernest Turner deserved a break.

Either way, Turner will play for the Rebels this year. The 6-foot-2 guard from New Jersey was granted an initial eligibility waiver Thursday, two months after he narrowly failed to meet NCAA freshman academic standards.

Instead of merely practicing with the club in preparation for 2002-03, Turner can look forward to immediately contributing. He averaged 27 points last season at Sterling HS in Somerdale, N.J.

"It's great news. Now I have to make the best of it," said Turner, who turns 20 in November. "I've been waiting for the decision and working hard in the weight room. But this makes me want to work even harder."

The waiver came as a relief for the program in light of its long, contentious relationship with the NCAA. A three-year NCAA probe into recruiting violations under former Rebels coach Bill Bayno resulted last December in probation through 2004 and other restrictions.

Charlie Spoonhour, who became coach March 29, declined to say whether the waiver signaled a fresh start in the Rebels' dealings with the NCAA. But he was pleased the organization granted Turner full eligibility.

"I thought we had a great chance to (gain the waiver), but you never know about stuff like that," Spoonhour said. "There have been other cases similar to this and the NCAA allowed those players to play, so we felt there was precedent.

"I'm happy the NCAA did this for Ernest."