'12 VA PF Ifeanyi Onyekaba (URI Roster Qualifier)

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 11 years ago

Most waiver requests are submitted well before school starts, so even if conference and school name didn't matter (which I agree it does), IF's would be at the bottom of the pile just chronologically. But we don't even know why he's ineligible nevermind what basis they're requesting he be ruled eligible. It doesn't seem to be grades, scores, or number or schools he attended so what is it? And how the hell could it have cost him years of eligibility before he even enrolled in college?

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 11 years ago

It will be interesting to see if he plays in the Blue/White scrimmage this weekend

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

Tom Penders

@TomPenders
@RodfromCranston Foreign players are often a waiting game. He was not at the practice that I was at last week

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Too bad, really.

Hope we get a full explanation from someone.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 11 years ago

Weird, so maybe they had to get him qualified first before they could file the waiver to play this year? So confusing...

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

I still wish somebody would explain what the problem is with The Big O.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 11 years ago

Some of the foreign students have shaky academic credentials from their days in their home countries.

It is great he is qualified and enrolled....I assume he is like Ledo at pc..he can practice but not play in games.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

I believe he went to high school in the U.S. for three years, so that should make up the bulk of his transcript. And if they deny the waiver request, there's always the appeal... it's the process that never ends.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Not too much additional information, but, as mentioned above, they are going to file for a waiver. Zagoria mentions his "complex situation." I'm starting to think that no one really understands it all.

http://zagsblog.com/rhode-island/nigeri ... de-island/

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 11 years ago

Seems like its just safe to assume we play without him this year. If he somehow becomes eligible it'll be a pleasant surprise. Even more to look forward to for next year I guess.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 11 years ago

adam914 wrote:Seems like its just safe to assume we play without him this year. If he somehow becomes eligible it'll be a pleasant surprise. Even more to look forward to for next year I guess.

The good news is:
1. He is now declared eligible by NCAA Standards - no more waiting on that decision - done
2. He also gets to play for 3 years
3. He is enrolled in our school and he can practice all season with the team

Now depending on how you look at the 2012 - 2013 season you could look at this from two viewpoints:

1. This is a lost season. Probably win in a range of 5-10 games. Finish out of the Top 12 in the A10 Standings, and little or no hope for NCAA, NIT, CIT or CBI. Work the transfers (and those who are not eligible yet) hard in practices. Mission is to prepare for post-season play in 2013 - 2014. In this scenario it is better that Onyekaba does not play this season and we save his 3 years for beginning next year. He still gets to practice with the team, adjust to the academic level of college and prove to the coaching staff his ability to be a starter on the 2013 - 2014 team. Assess the performance of the starters for this year and compare their performance to the "practice players" who are currently ineligible. The starters for 2013 - 2014 will begin to appear to the Coaches and to the current group of players. Some will think about transferring out or accept their future playing time based on how they perform and what they see.

2. This team can qualify for post season play. You think the team is capable of 15 - 18 wins this year. In this case you would be disappointed that Onyekaba cannot play this year.

In either case, the talent level at URI is improving, competition for playing time in 2013 - 2014 will be intense. The future looks good - period. But if only looking at wins and losses this could be a long season. Best to be a glass half full fan in 2012-2013.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 11 years ago

adam914 wrote:Seems like its just safe to assume we play without him this year. If he somehow becomes eligible it'll be a pleasant surprise. Even more to look forward to for next year I guess.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

I still don't understand why he loses a year of eligibility.

Rammgr · Unread post by **Rammgr** » 11 years ago

I'm not so sure that he loses a yr of eligibility. I believe, tho, that he would have to apply for the 4th yr afterward. It's like a medical redshirt. You still list him with his class but he he gets 2 yrs as a "senior" if it's approved. Difference between him & Ledo is that Ledo is only a partial qualifier. O is fully qualified so it's posible he gets to play some time this yr where it's not possible for Ledo this yr.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

ramster wrote:
The good news is:
1. He is now declared eligible by NCAA Standards - no more waiting on that decision - done
2. He also gets to play for 3 years
3. He is enrolled in our school and he can practice all season with the team

Now depending on how you look at the 2012 - 2013 season you could look at this from two viewpoints:

1. This is a lost season. Probably win in a range of 5-10 games. Finish out of the Top 12 in the A10 Standings, and little or no hope for NCAA, NIT, CIT or CBI. Work the transfers (and those who are not eligible yet) hard in practices. Mission is to prepare for post-season play in 2013 - 2014. In this scenario it is better that Onyekaba does not play this season and we save his 3 years for beginning next year. He still gets to practice with the team, adjust to the academic level of college and prove to the coaching staff his ability to be a starter on the 2013 - 2014 team. Assess the performance of the starters for this year and compare their performance to the "practice players" who are currently ineligible. The starters for 2013 - 2014 will begin to appear to the Coaches and to the current group of players. Some will think about transferring out or accept their future playing time based on how they perform and what they see.

2. This team can qualify for post season play. You think the team is capable of 15 - 18 wins this year. In this case you would be disappointed that Onyekaba cannot play this year.

In either case, the talent level at URI is improving, competition for playing time in 2013 - 2014 will be intense. The future looks good - period. But if only looking at wins and losses this could be a long season. Best to be a glass half full fan in 2012-2013.

Good points. The depth, or lack thereof, scares me. Hurley's teams tend to foul a lot, and not from lazy reach-ins. It's just the style of play. While we've already heard and seen some of the changes that the new staff has implemented, we're really not going to see a full Hurley approach until 13-14. There's just not the depth to work it yet.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 11 years ago

Agreed, I fall mostly in your #1 situation. I'm just looking forward to seeing this team develop over the year and start the rebirth of this program. Going to be an up and down season in my opinion, but I do feel like there will be an upset or two along the way.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

The NCAA give every player a FIVE year window, so where is this 3 year crap coming from?????
Mobley was here SIX years. Mike Brown had SIX years all told in NCAA D-1.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

It was first mentioned by Dave Telep. I have no doubt that he is quite familiar with the basic eligibility rules (5 year window), so if he brings it up, there's something unique about Onyekaba's case.

Iggy1979 · Unread post by **Iggy1979** » 11 years ago

KMac said today that he's a full qualifier but can't play this year. what?

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

These reporters need to clarify the situation and report exactly what is happening. I can't believe we don't have a complete status update right now.

Ryan Rowdy · Unread post by **Ryan Rowdy** » 11 years ago

I assumed that he was still in HS in Virginia at the start of this year, then due to some sort of loop hole he became eligible (ala Billy Walker at K-State a few years back)?

A confusing situation indeed.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

Has there ever been a case when a kid started his September school year in high school and ended up in college just a few weeks later?

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Yeah, all that is true (that he was planning on being in high school this year), but that's not the confusing part. Telep wrote that if Onyekaba didn't get on a campus this year, he risked losing up to two years of eligibility. Katz and Zagoria have further referenced the situation- that it's rare, complex, etc., but no explanation has been given.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

ace wrote:Yeah, all that is true (that he was planning on being in high school this year), but that's not the confusing part. Telep wrote that if Onyekaba didn't get on a campus this year, he risked losing up to two years of eligibility. Katz and Zagoria have further referenced the situation- that it's rare, complex, etc., but no explanation has been given.

Did he actually attend high school classes in September before he came to URI?

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Billyboy78 wrote:
ace wrote:Yeah, all that is true (that he was planning on being in high school this year), but that's not the confusing part. Telep wrote that if Onyekaba didn't get on a campus this year, he risked losing up to two years of eligibility. Katz and Zagoria have further referenced the situation- that it's rare, complex, etc., but no explanation has been given.
Did he actually attend high school classes in September before he came to URI?

I would imagine that he did. Dan and Bobby were in VA to see him around September 20th, and classes had started the end of August. Onyekaba was originally going to be a regular '13 recruit before this all went into high gear. It sounds like in looking at his transcript(s), someone at URI saw that he could be eligible to attend college this year and also noted the issues (whatever they are) with future eligibility.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

For those that missed it, this is the original Telep piece (insider).

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/dave-telep/post?id=2309

from the article:
It would be too long and complicated to explain so I’ll shorten it up. Onyekaba had a choice to make. Due to his transcript from Nigeria and subsequent reclassification in the States, he was hours away from potentially losing not one, but two years of collegiate eligibility. That’s where URI enters the picture.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

So my question is, is there any precedent to this? Has there ever been a case where a kid was in high school for 3 weeks and then in college the next week? This is possibly why it is more complicated than other cases.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Maybe. But I would rather understand why his years of eligibility are/could be affected, which seems to have less to do with when and how he started college and more to do with what happened before.

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 11 years ago

"The Rams received some good news from the NCAA late last week. Nigerian forward Ifeanyi Onyekaba was cleared to practice with the team this season but, at the moment, will be unable to play in games for the Rams until the 2013-2014 season. URI is appealing that decision in an effort to get Onyekaba eligible to play this season. The 6'-8" 240-pound freshman would add some much needed beef to the Rams' front line."

http://www.golocalprov.com/sports/hurri ... -pc-brown/

URI96 · Unread post by **URI96** » 11 years ago

Saw him at the game last night. He is a large fella.

Rhody72 · Unread post by **Rhody72** » 11 years ago

URI knows and others know as well, it just isn't being made public by anyone yet. For example, how old is he and what proof about his DOB is available? Isn't there a maximum age?

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 11 years ago

So 72 can you please be more specific? What do you mean "URI knows"?

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 11 years ago

Why is his age being brought up? That was never an issue before. According to this article, which was printed in April of 2010, he was 16 at the time. Seems to me that he's 18.
http://www.roanoke.com/sports/highschool/wb/243271

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

'72 used to be one of my favorite posters.
Lately, he's become Mr. Negative.
If you have something to say, say it! Don't try to imply something real or unreal.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Onyekaba is the only one without his birthday listed on the roster, so clearly- scandal! I think I'll start a rumor that he's really former little league star Danny Almonte.

This is the 21 year age rule: There is no age limit on who can participate as a student-athlete, however, a student-athlete who has turned 21 years old and has never attended a college or university as a full-time student will utilize a season of competition for every calendar year beginning with his/her 21st birthday in which he/she participates in organized competition in his/her sport while not being enrolled as a full-time student.

Essam · Unread post by **Essam** » 11 years ago

Ace What are you saying?

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 11 years ago

Looks like Onyekaba is 21? Just a guess?

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Rhody72 asked about there being a maximum age limit; there really isn't, except for the 21 year age rule. It was a general response, not necessarily specific to Onyekaba. My understanding, based on what I've read elsewhere is that he's 18 turning 19 this school year.

URI96 · Unread post by **URI96** » 11 years ago

ace wrote:Onyekaba is the only one without his birthday listed on the roster, so clearly- scandal! I think I'll start a rumor that he's really former little league star Danny Almonte.

This is the 21 year age rule: There is no age limit on who can participate as a student-athlete, however, a student-athlete who has turned 21 years old and has never attended a college or university as a full-time student will utilize a season of competition for every calendar year beginning with his/her 21st birthday in which he/she participates in organized competition in his/her sport while not being enrolled as a full-time student.

I've read this half a dozen times and still don't get it.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 11 years ago

OK, as I read it, he's either 22 or is going to turn 22, before or during the season.
So, he played last year, which is one year, and this year, if he stayed in high school, would have added another year.
That's where someone got him possibly losing two years eligibility. If he's 21 or over last year, he lost a year.
When I was in 8th grade, we had a couple of Portugese immigrants in our classes, who were quite a bit older than us, but were there to catch up on the language/academics.
Who knows? I think Ace's finding the rule sort of clairifies it.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 11 years ago

i read recently that the juco kid Orlando Sanchez that signed with St Johns is 24 years old. And though he only played 2 years of Juco the NCAA was going to give him only 1 year of eligibility at St Johns. Could be a similar situation as it didnt seem like he should be robbed of 2 years if not for some type of age limit rule.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

To be clear, I never said this pertains to Onyekaba. Besides, don't most states have age limits for high school sports participation?

BFC · Unread post by **BFC** » 11 years ago

The age thing would make sense, but I don't think we should assume he's older than he was claiming in high school, he may just be unable to document his age.
Also, how the hell can guys like Chris Weinke play college football at 29 years old?

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

URI96 wrote:
ace wrote:Onyekaba is the only one without his birthday listed on the roster, so clearly- scandal! I think I'll start a rumor that he's really former little league star Danny Almonte.

This is the 21 year age rule: There is no age limit on who can participate as a student-athlete, however, a student-athlete who has turned 21 years old and has never attended a college or university as a full-time student will utilize a season of competition for every calendar year beginning with his/her 21st birthday in which he/she participates in organized competition in his/her sport while not being enrolled as a full-time student.

I've read this half a dozen times and still don't get it.

I understand it but only barely. What confuses me is the "organized competition in his/her sport" part. Anyone have examples of what that could be? Where would a player be involved in his/her sport if not in college or somewhere getting paid?

Weinke was so old because he played minor league baseball before going to college to play football. Brandon Weeden did the same thing.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 11 years ago

David Ortiz is really 55 years old.

rhodyras · Unread post by **rhodyras** » 11 years ago

didn't Georgetown have a guy back in the 1980's who worked as a mailman, then came back to school at like, 26? i don't think he got 4 years either...

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 11 years ago

I read it as allowing you to play organized sports so long as you are not enrolled in college but in other sports....so if you graduate high school and go play baseball for a living for three years, but do not attend school, then you do not lose eligibility in say basketball or football.

So Big O must be near 21 years old and if he stayed in high school any longer would lose basketball eligibility by playing basketball.

His age also tells me that there is much disinformation about his background academically.

It may take a while for him to get an answer on his waiver.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

Ramulous wrote:I read it as allowing you to play organized sports so long as you are not enrolled in college but in other sports....so if you graduate high school and go play baseball for a living for three years, but do not attend school, then you do not lose eligibility in say basketball or football.

So Big O must be near 21 years old and if he stayed in high school any longer would lose basketball eligibility by playing basketball.

His age also tells me that there is much disinformation about his background academically.

It may take a while for him to get an answer on his waiver.

I don't think so. It says "will utilize a season of competition for every calendar year beginning with his/her 21st birthday in which he/she participates in organized competition in his/her sport." That reads to me as being the same sport and not a case like Weeden or Weinke. But we still don't know for sure if this relates to Onyekaba.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 11 years ago

ace wrote:
Ramulous wrote:I read it as allowing you to play organized sports so long as you are not enrolled in college but in other sports....so if you graduate high school and go play baseball for a living for three years, but do not attend school, then you do not lose eligibility in say basketball or football.

So Big O must be near 21 years old and if he stayed in high school any longer would lose basketball eligibility by playing basketball.

His age also tells me that there is much disinformation about his background academically.

It may take a while for him to get an answer on his waiver.
I don't think so. It says "will utilize a season of competition for every calendar year beginning with his/her 21st birthday in which he/she participates in organized competition in his/her sport." That reads to me as being the same sport and not a case like Weeden or Weinke. But we still don't know for sure if this relates to Onyekaba.

Believe he said exactly what you went on to say. Confused by your disagreement.

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 11 years ago

TruePoint wrote:
ace wrote:
Ramulous wrote:I read it as allowing you to play organized sports so long as you are not enrolled in college but in other sports....so if you graduate high school and go play baseball for a living for three years, but do not attend school, then you do not lose eligibility in say basketball or football.

So Big O must be near 21 years old and if he stayed in high school any longer would lose basketball eligibility by playing basketball.

His age also tells me that there is much disinformation about his background academically.

It may take a while for him to get an answer on his waiver.
I don't think so. It says "will utilize a season of competition for every calendar year beginning with his/her 21st birthday in which he/she participates in organized competition in his/her sport." That reads to me as being the same sport and not a case like Weeden or Weinke. But we still don't know for sure if this relates to Onyekaba.
Believe he said exactly what you went on to say. Confused by your disagreement.

Well then consider me equally confused. Didn't he use an example of playing baseball and not losing eligibility to play basketball or football? I'm reading the rule as playing/losing eligibility in the same sport.

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