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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Friday, August 6, 2004

UH must run fast break

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

A new NCAA rule that became effective yesterday means schools must draft and have approved recruiting policies on file in their conference offices before being allowed to bring prospective recruits in for official visits.

KARL BENSON

For the University of Hawai'i — which is involved in some late basketball recruiting but was among Western Athletic Conference members without a policy on file yesterday, according to WAC officials — that might mean some quick writing.

UH, which is looking for an 11th-hour replacement for point guard Logan Lee, is scheduled to bring in a prospect Monday.

UH athletic department officials were not immediately available to discuss the situation yesterday.

David Berst, NCAA vice president, said, "the rule is in effect (as of yesterday). The institution's current policies must be on file before a recruit comes in and the final policies that require CEO signature must be on file Dec. 1."

WAC commissioner Karl Benson said, "I think everybody expected it (the rule) to be adopted but might not have known it would be immediate. I would anticipate there might be some lag time" in penalizing schools that don't comply.

Benson said the WAC office was sending reminders to its members to draft and file their policies.

As part of its "emergency package" of legislation designed to clean up recruiting in the wake of scandals at Colorado and other schools, the NCAA Board of Directors yesterday passed a rule requiring schools to "develop written policies that specifically prohibit inappropriate or illegal behavior in recruiting.

"Policies must be approved by campus presidents or chancellors by Dec. 1, and be on file in their conference office (or the NCAA for independent institutions) prior to bringing any prospect to campus for an official visit in the 2004-05 academic year. The NCAA reserves the right to investigate major recruiting violations under this measure."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.