Wilkins: Chances on being a Brave?

[Da Coach]

Could Wilkins be awarded a scholarship retroactively?

Yes, in the scenario you presented, he could enroll, take classes, pay his own way, and then when cleared by the NCAA, he could join the team and begin practicing. He would then have to sit out the 5 games. This possibility has been considered, and if they were reasonably sure the clearance would be soon, it might happen.

[Beninator]

So far, I view this as a non-story.... The Belgian goverment is a mess, we are dealing with a bureaucracy with their educational system, and we are in the middle of a holiday season. As the Mark Twain version of the saying goes, "there's more than one way to skin a cat". (more than one way to get what we all want) As some of the posters have already stated, I think that we will do everything we can above board to get Wilkins registered and attending classes at Bradley. If I remember correctly, Wilkins has the qualifying test scores in this country. Once Wilkins is registered here, we have more time to get the transcript mess cleared and his eligibility clock for the NCAA is still not running.

[lake Camelot]

Well I really hope your sources are wrong. I have been feeling it may be that way. I don't like that we are not having that good of season. He can look at our team and say i made a mistake. I think things would be way different next year with our incoming recruits and AW back.

[Guinness]

Am I missing something? If he's never cleared academically to register in a US college, then he'll never don any kind of uniform.

So honestly, the flight risk is minimal in terms of losing him to another school. Where would he go? Directly to the NBA? No. Europe? Maybe, but my bet is he knows the fastest route for his career is through college.

[Guinness]

Well I really hope your sources are wrong. I have been feeling it may be that way. I don't like that we are not having that good of season. He can look at our team and say i made a mistake. I think things would be way different next year with our incoming recruits and AW back.

If he doesnt play for BU, he doesnt play ANYWHERE. He's not cleared, period!

[lake Camelot]

Am I missing something? If he's never cleared academically to register in a US college, then he'll never don any kind of uniform.

So honestly, the flight risk is minimal in terms of losing him to another school. Where would he go? Directly to the NBA? No. Europe? Maybe, but my bet is he knows the fastest route for his career is through college.

Well if he is cleared to play too late for this year he could go anywhere. He is not bound to us.

[PeoriaLou]

Well if he is cleared to play too late for this year he could go anywhere. He is not bound to us.

He wasn't bound to us to begin with. He gave us a verbal because he wanted to play here.

BU should continue to work to get his transcript situation worked out, get him cleared to enroll, and have him sign a LOI for 2009. Simple.....

[jeffsu]

Am I missing something? If he's never cleared academically to register in a US college, then he'll never don any kind of uniform.

So honestly, the flight risk is minimal in terms of losing him to another school. Where would he go? Directly to the NBA? No. Europe? Maybe, but my bet is he knows the fastest route for his career is through college.

No, but he could be qualified late enough to not want to start his eligibility clock for this season and want to wait to enroll somewhere until the Fall. Then he'd be cleared, have qualifying test scores, and be ready to go. For ANYONE. He was hot on BU because we would let him play this year. Whether our coaches faith in him and letting him come in anytime this year made an impact and created some loyalty with JW has yet to be seen. We all hope so!

[Guinness]

No, but he could be qualified late enough to not want to start his eligibility clock for this season and want to wait to enroll somewhere until the Fall. Then he'd be cleared, have qualifying test scores, and be ready to go. For ANYONE. He was hot on BU because we would let him play this year. Whether our coaches faith in him and letting him come in anytime this year made an impact and created some loyalty with JW has yet to be seen. We all hope so!

I see. If he really was pursued by 50 schools like I heard, then I could see some sort of possible scandal going on here. Perhaps they're holding out until he cant register for 2009, opening him up to the big schools again?

[BradleyBrave]

I see. If he really was pursued by 50 schools like I heard, then I could see some sort of possible scandal going on here. Perhaps they're holding out until he cant register for 2009, opening him up to the big schools again?

I don't think it's a conspiracy, but if he doesn't play for BU this year he never will. He'll be starring for a BCS school starting game 6 of next season.

[Guinness]

I don't think it's a conspiracy, but if he doesn't play for BU this year he never will. He'll be starring for a BCS school starting game 6 of next season.

We'll see, how many recruits have been promised playing time right out of high school, only to sit on the bench and transfer their sophmore year? Maybe we need to make him extremely aware that BCS schools lie/cheat/steal.

[BradleyBrave]

We'll see, how many recruits have been promised playing time right out of high school, only to sit on the bench and transfer their sophmore year? Maybe we need to make him extremely aware that BCS schools lie/cheat/steal.

That has rarely worked for us. Butler was able to convince Gordon Hayward, and we were able to convince Jordan Prosser. 9 times out of 10 though, the BCS wins out.

[TNel]

So much negative speculation, apparently with no basis. We know very little about this young man ... his personality, his likes, his dislikes. Could it be he prefers a mid-size community in which to live, and a smaller campus environment? Do you suppose it was love at first sight when he visited BU? And an immediate connection when he met the coaching staff? All very possible ... probably as much so as the negative speculation.

[doug shank's crossover]

Much to do about nothing

Wilkin's eligibility is a moot point...this is another example of the current coaching administration recruiting a player based on rep and a handful of AAU game "flashes" vs. recruiting a player who has a proven track record against viable competition. . He's a "big" and that's all that matters to a coaching regime that has had almost no success recruiting 3's, 4's or post players. Trivia question: can you name the last player BU recruited based on rep and an alledged All Star rep? (hint Kentucky vs. Indiana all star team)...

[bu fan 9]

He is not a post player he is more of a guard.He will most likely be a 3.