UWGB’s Flores loses appeal, won’t return to play
Jun 22, 2005 16:10:00 GMT -5
Post by Big D on Jun 22, 2005 16:10:00 GMT -5
College basketball: UWGB’s Flores loses appeal, won’t return to play
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
Benito Flores’ long-shot appeal to play for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay this season was shot down on Tuesday by the NCAA for the second and final time.
That means Flores’ career with the Phoenix is over after one all-conference season. Though it was hardly an unexpected decision, it means UWGB will return only one full-time starter, rising junior Josh Lawrence, next season.
Flores, who will turn 25 on July 11, essentially ran out of eligibility despite playing only two years of junior college basketball and one year in Division I because of his age and an appearance on the Dominican Republic National team in 2001.
NCAA rules state that once a player turns 21, he has five years to play four seasons. Any organized basketball played after the 21st birthday counts as one season. A month after Flores turned 21, he played eight games for his country in a tournament in Japan. The NCAA considered that one full season.
“I certainly feel the rule is unfair,” UWGB coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “Playing for one’s country is one of the greatest honors in athletics and to punish a remarkable student-athlete like Benito is unjust. In my 17 years of college coaching, Benito is one of the best guys I’ve had the privilege to coach.”
Kowalczyk said the university filed two appeals to the NCAA. One included a hand-written letter to NCAA president Myles Brand from UWGB chancellor Bruce Shepard.
“It was one of the most powerful and well-written letters I’ve ever read,” Kowalczyk said. “Chancellor Shepard did everything he could to help Benito, and we appreciate that.”
Flores, who led the Phoenix in scoring (13.9 points per game) and rebounding (6.5 per game) last season, was a second-team, all-Horizon League pick last season and likely would have been a player of the year candidate this season. He said Tuesday that he intends to remain at UWGB to finish his degree in human development and help the Phoenix in any way he can this season.
“I’m upset, but those are the rules, and we have to respect them even though they are unfair,” Flores said. “Every athlete dreams of playing for his country. If I had to do that over, I would do it again without thinking twice.”
Though Kowalczyk had been holding out hope that Flores would win his appeal, he recruited throughout last season as though Flores would not play this season.
“I felt all along that as the coach of this program that I needed to plan for the worst-case scenario,” Kowalczyk said. “I think we have done that. That said, we’re certainly going to miss Benito.”
Kowalczyk signed five high school recruits and two junior college players who will be eligible this fall. All but two — junior college guard Ontario McKee and Canadian high school guard Simon Farine — already are on UWGB’s campus taking summer classes and playing pick-up games. McKee is taking one class at UW-Parkside to complete his junior college degree, and Farine is trying out to play for Canada in the World University Games or on the national under-22 team.
www.greenbaypressgazette.com/sports/archive/sports_21523972.shtml
By Rob Demovsky
rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
Benito Flores’ long-shot appeal to play for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay this season was shot down on Tuesday by the NCAA for the second and final time.
That means Flores’ career with the Phoenix is over after one all-conference season. Though it was hardly an unexpected decision, it means UWGB will return only one full-time starter, rising junior Josh Lawrence, next season.
Flores, who will turn 25 on July 11, essentially ran out of eligibility despite playing only two years of junior college basketball and one year in Division I because of his age and an appearance on the Dominican Republic National team in 2001.
NCAA rules state that once a player turns 21, he has five years to play four seasons. Any organized basketball played after the 21st birthday counts as one season. A month after Flores turned 21, he played eight games for his country in a tournament in Japan. The NCAA considered that one full season.
“I certainly feel the rule is unfair,” UWGB coach Tod Kowalczyk said. “Playing for one’s country is one of the greatest honors in athletics and to punish a remarkable student-athlete like Benito is unjust. In my 17 years of college coaching, Benito is one of the best guys I’ve had the privilege to coach.”
Kowalczyk said the university filed two appeals to the NCAA. One included a hand-written letter to NCAA president Myles Brand from UWGB chancellor Bruce Shepard.
“It was one of the most powerful and well-written letters I’ve ever read,” Kowalczyk said. “Chancellor Shepard did everything he could to help Benito, and we appreciate that.”
Flores, who led the Phoenix in scoring (13.9 points per game) and rebounding (6.5 per game) last season, was a second-team, all-Horizon League pick last season and likely would have been a player of the year candidate this season. He said Tuesday that he intends to remain at UWGB to finish his degree in human development and help the Phoenix in any way he can this season.
“I’m upset, but those are the rules, and we have to respect them even though they are unfair,” Flores said. “Every athlete dreams of playing for his country. If I had to do that over, I would do it again without thinking twice.”
Though Kowalczyk had been holding out hope that Flores would win his appeal, he recruited throughout last season as though Flores would not play this season.
“I felt all along that as the coach of this program that I needed to plan for the worst-case scenario,” Kowalczyk said. “I think we have done that. That said, we’re certainly going to miss Benito.”
Kowalczyk signed five high school recruits and two junior college players who will be eligible this fall. All but two — junior college guard Ontario McKee and Canadian high school guard Simon Farine — already are on UWGB’s campus taking summer classes and playing pick-up games. McKee is taking one class at UW-Parkside to complete his junior college degree, and Farine is trying out to play for Canada in the World University Games or on the national under-22 team.
www.greenbaypressgazette.com/sports/archive/sports_21523972.shtml