UK's Kanter "Permanently Ineligible"

((HT: WLEX-TV Lexington))

Enes Kanter's eligibility status had been in question ever since he set foot on the True Blue campus because of his involvement with a Turkish team, Fenerbahce, for three seasons.

While he competed primarily for the club’s under-18 junior team, he did compete on the club’s senior team in 2008-09. Kanter received $33,033 more than his expenses for the 2008-09 season.

That's a big boo-boo...

Kanter then moved to the United States in 2009 and attended a prep high school before enrolling at Kentucky this fall.

The university is appealing the decision to something called the "Division I Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee" at the end of the month. It's amde up of representatives from NCAA member colleges, universities and athletic conferences and can reduce or remove the conditions, but it cannot increase the conditions imposed by the staff.

A new NCAA rule that allows prospective student-athletes to compete on teams with professionals while maintaining their amateur status ((wouldn't you know Coach Cal would find this one)) prior to college applies; but the NCAA thinks benefits exceeded "actual and necessary expenses."

“Enes took advantage of an opportunity to play at the highest level available to him, but the consequences of receiving payments above his actual expenses is not compatible with the collegiate model of sports that our members have developed,” said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of academic and membership affairs.

Kanter can still practice, in the interim, but he can't compete or travel with the team while the appeal is pending.

Here's Alan Cutler in the newsroom...