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NCAA adds to Crawford's suspension
Posted: Friday February 04, 2000 11:33 PM
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- University of Michigan freshman basketball player Jamal Crawford's eligibility will be reinstated, but the guard will still have to sit out five more games following an NCAA ruling, the university said Friday. The NCAA ruled that support provided to Crawford by a close family friend and mentor with whom he lived while in high school violated its rules concerning amateurism. Crawford will be able to practice with the team and attend classes, but will be unable to play until Feb. 24, when the Wolverines take on Purdue. The university says it plans to ask the NCAA to reconsider its decision. The appeal won't be heard until after Sunday's nationally televised game with fifth-ranked Ohio State, the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday. "We certainly understand the reason for NCAA rules regarding amateurism," said Marvin Krislov, university vice president and general counsel. "But there are compelling reasons why Jamal's situation is different and we will present them to the NCAA." Crawford, Michigan's leading scorer with a 16.6 points per game average, was ruled ineligible for the Wolverines' game Tuesday night with No. 8 Michigan State while the university awaited the NCAA ruling on possible rules violations. NCAA officials said Crawford, with permission of his mother, lived with a man who wasn't his legal guardian for the three years he attended Rainier Beach High School in Seattle. The Ann Arbor News reported the man was Barry Henthorn, the president of Innovative Communication Technologies Inc. The NCAA has said the living arrangement could be similar to an athlete having a sponsor, and an amateur can't have a sponsor. Michigan described Henthorn as "a close family friend and mentor with whom (Crawford) lived when he was in high school" in Seattle. The Crawford-Henthorn issue arose when Crawford recently tried to register a 1988 Mercedes with the athletic department. University of Michigan rules require athletes to register their vehicles. Because Henthorn was responsible for Crawford's acquisition of the car, eyebrows were raised at Michigan. Athletic director Tom Goss said Michigan informed the NCAA last week. The university had hoped to receive a favorable ruling from the NCAA in time for Sunday's game against No. 5 Ohio State.
Last month, Michigan basketball coach Brian Ellerbe reduced
press access to his team following reports Crawford was considering
transferring at the end of the season.
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