We all know the drama surrounding the Enes Kanter situation and that drama won’t end for another two weeks, when Kentucky officials figure out whether one of the team’s prized recruits is able to play this season.
Kanter’s claim to fame thus far in his career is that he’s a multi-talented big man from Turkey, who used to play professional basketball for Fenerbache Ulker. In doing so it is said that Kanter could have taken up to $100,000 in benefits and money for his services or so says Nedem Karakas, the general Manager of Fenerbache.
The problem that everyone continues to harp on is the fact that athlete’s just entering the collegiate sporting world is forbidden from receiving such benefits before entering college.
That puts Kanter’s eligibility and status with the Kentucky Wildcats up in the air.
What might be most interesting to note—other than the fact that Pete Thamel of the New York Times is a snitch and journalistic parasite—is that Kanter is not the first, nor is he the last to go through this kind of ordeal.
Other European players have gone through the same situation with European teams essentially acting as if they “own the player,” let alone the individual as a human being.
"“Like most European clubs, Fenerbahce Ulker feels like they owntheir players, and homegrown talent defection is a blow to their basketballbusiness, as well as a stab at their personal and national pride. Kanter’scontroversial exit from the team was less than amicable, due in part to theinvolvement of pseudo agent Max Ergul.”"
If Kanter was indeed paid upwards of a $100,000, then his decision to bypass his playing days in Europe will be a costly investment for Fenerbache, who like many European teams, pays thousands of dollars to keep their homegrown talent from playing overseas—in the United States in this instance.
Kanter’s decision to play college basketball seems to be as genuine as the guy next to him. If Brandon Knight wants to play at the University of Kentucky, why can’t Kanter?
It certainly puts the NCAA in a bind because they’re the ones deciding Kanter’s eligibility and have the power to let him play, sit him out several games, or deny his eligibility completely. Kentucky fans hope it’s one of the former rather than the latter that comes into play for the 2010-11 seasons.
Still, with all of that said, it’s fascinating to dissect the information given to the NCAA by Fenerbache and whether their intentions are truly in favor of Kanter’s opportunity to play collegiate basketball or whether Fenerbache is entirely out for themselves.
The former European player—unnamed in the JerseyChaser’s article—believes Fenerbache is acting out-of-character saying,
"“Because Kanter is attending an N.C.A.A. institution, there is no buyoutclause so Fenerbahce cannot re-coup their hundred thousand dollar investment. Ibelieve this more than anything else, has ushered them into snitch territory.On the flip side if Kanter is ruled ineligible by the N.C.A.A. and hereturns to Europe, Fenerbahce would be in line to receive a buyout from any teamthat wants to secure his talents.”"
This former European player also suggests that European teams feel obligated to have a strangle hold on their players saying,
"“Fenerbahce must have spent a lot of money on Kanter, and his situation highlights a larger issue in international basketball, the one where clubs have the leverage and essentially hold players hostage, with fear of repercussions for their collegiate and NBA aspirations.”"
All in all, the Enes Kanter situation brings a lot to the table for not only the NCAA and their decisions on the matter, but for NBA teams as well as European teams that have some of the world’s best talent.
One thing that is entirely looked over is the fact that Kanter’s time in Europe is really no different than a high-school senior deciding to attend prep-school instead of heading straight to a collegiate team like Kentucky. The high-school player will essentially be paid for his services while attending the said prep-school, thus making the situation no different than Kanter’s.
There are a lot of rules and guidelines the NCAA expects teams and players to follow, but one thing is for sure and that is that the NCAA needs to take the bull-by-the-horns and come up with a complete and comprehensive solution to deal with situations like these. If they don’t, then they will not only make themselves look stupid, but will also ruin the opportunity for kids to live out their dreams of playing collegiate sports.
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