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Stone free Louisville's big man cleared to play Friday, school saysPosted: Friday March 14, 2003 4:23 PMUpdated: Friday March 14, 2003 5:18 PM LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Louisville center Marvin Stone was cleared to play in Friday's Conference USA tournament semifinal game against Memphis, the school announced. The 6-foot-10 senior has missed three of Louisville's last four games as the NCAA continued investigating whether Stone accepted illegal benefits during his high school and college career. Stone was benched just hours before Louisville's 82-66 win over Tulane in Thursday's tournament quarterfinals. The school's decision to let Stone play came an hour before the No. 20 Cardinals (22-6) were scheduled to play the No. 16 Tigers (23-5). Calls to the NCAA were referred to spokeswoman Monica Lunderman, who did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press. The NCAA urged the school to bench Stone from the start of its probe, which dragged into its fourth week. If Stone played and then was found to have committed NCAA violations, Louisville could be subject to sanctions, athletics director Tom Jurich said. Stone's status for the rest of Louisville's season remained uncertain, but Jurich said he felt comfortable allowing Stone to play "the rest of the way." "It's been a long, long process, one that we have been very cautious of, and one that we will continue to be very cautious on," Jurich said. Louisville president James Ramsey, who has also been involved in the school's discussions with the NCAA, said he had no reservations about Stone's eligibility. "We have worked cooperatively with the NCAA to address their questions," Ramsey said. "Based on the information we have, we are confident Marvin has committed no violations." Stone is Louisville's second-leading rebounder (7.4 per game) and third-leading scorer (10.6 points per game). The Cardinals won the three games Stone missed since March 1, but also won the first 13 in which he played this season. NCAA investigators first interviewed Stone on Feb. 23, inquiring about his relationship with Huntsville, Ala., businessman Mark Komara, who also runs an AAU program there. Stone played for Komara in high school. But Stone's attorney, Don Jackson, convinced the NCAA that Komara was a longtime family friend. That made gifts he may have given to Stone permissible. The NCAA's inquiry then turned to wire transfers Stone received while he was at Kentucky from 1998-2001. The wire transfers totaled about $450, Jackson said. Jackson proved to the NCAA all the money came from family members, again apparently clearing Stone of wrongdoing, Jackson said. The NCAA told Louisville earlier this week it still had reason to believe Stone may have committed a violation. NCAA investigators were in Stone's hometown of Huntsville this week questioning Stone's family members and acquaintances of Komara. "This whole thing has been full of surprises," Jackson said. "Every time I think it's going to go one way, it's turned in another. "Hopefully, nothing will change from here." Louisville officials talked with NCAA enforcement officials Thursday night before arriving at their decision Friday. "We have taken a very cautious approach as it affects not only Marvin, but the future of our athletic program," Jurich said. "At the same time, we have aggressively investigated all of the issues raised by the NCAA. "Our first duty is to the institution and to assure to the best of our knowledge that we are fully playing within the rules. We've done our diligence on this matter, even going back to events in Marvin's early childhood." Stone refused to comment on the situation after Thursday's game. He did not attend the late-afternoon news conference with Jurich and Ramsey. |
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