If the 18-year-old Kanter is declared ineligible and decides to play for another European next season, Fenerbahce Ulker would be owed a transfer fee. Same scenario if Kanter would go straight to the NBA if declared ineligible at UK. Both Karakas and club executive Aydin Ors also told the Times they were unhappy with the way Kanter left the team because of their investment in the prospect.
“A lot of people in Turkey were not happy that he came to America for an education,” Turkman said. “He gave up big money to come here. That’s why it is so messy.”
Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels broke the original story on Kanter committing to Kentucky. During a live chat Wednesday at vaughtsviews.com, Daniels said it was hard to know what the NCAA might decide.
“I think everyone knew that there were going to be some hoops to jump through. I've heard all the rumor and stories. It's an interesting deal and I think the NCAA has a tough call. At the end of the day, if he was paid money like The New York Times story said, then I'd say it'd be tough for him to be eligible. Still a lot to play out. At this point it's in the NCAA's hands. Kanter and his people still say that he hasn't received any money,” Daniels wrote.
StudyinAmerica.com had Parla Alpan interview Kentucky coach John Calipari and Kanter during the summer, and the interview is still available on the Website. In the second part, Kanter talks about his recruitment in Turkish with an American transcript.
“Even then he said there were a lot of rumors out there that were not true about him and he was very sensitive about,” Turkman said. “He is an incredible player. He is very, very good and he really was excited about playing for Kentucky.”
Turkman said he was a bit surprised that there was no mention of Kanter’s situation in Turkish papers today. However, he said with Turkey hosting and playing in the world championship quarterfinals today that the whole country was focused on that.
“None of this is going to look very good on Turkey, either,” Turkman said. “We were excited to see him play at Kentucky. It was going to be good for all of Turkey. I would assume Kentucky is committed to fighting for him, but you just wonder what will happen now.”
Yes you do because the NCAA doesn’t reveal sources or what information it has. However, Turkman said Kanter seemed confident he was going to be eligible just as Calipari has been from the day he signed Kanter.
When will the ruling on his eligibility come? Who knows.
The Times story did not reveal when the Turkish club turned information over to the NCAA, and remember the NCAA has passed legislation to make it easier for European players to gain eligibility here.
My guess — Kanter misses some games but still plays this year. My reasoning — it seems to me the Turkish club has a lot to gain by making this revelation and all I’ve heard and know about Kanter’s family makes me wonder how they would jeopardize his future for $6,500 a month for 12 months. Then again, there are so many unknowns here that it is hard to really know what might happen.
