Jay Bilas, NC State and Lawyer Weigh in Yurtseven Suspension

Yesterday we told you that freshman center Omer Yurtseven was given a 9 game suspension, but was ultimately cleared by the NCAA. This was kind of bittersweet news for Gottfried and company. The good news is that Yurt will be back by ACC play, but the bad news is that the kid needs to miss 9 games of what might be his only season in Raleigh (he’s projected to go in the 2017 draft). We wanted to give you a feel of what people around college basketball are saying about the ruling.

NC State thankful but still disappointed
“The NCAA conducted a thoughtful analysis of Omer’s situation,” said NC State Director of Athletics Debbie Yow. “Their staff exhibited considerable concern for fairness and for the welfare of this conscientious young man in their decision.”

“I’m disappointed for Omer,” said NC State men’s basketball head coach Mark Gottfried. “He has been patient and 100 percent forthright. We will adapt and integrate him in as soon as possible.”

Jay Bilas says Yurtseven did nothing wrong and suspension was uncalled for

Ridiculous 9-game suspension for being foreign? Yurtseven did NOTHNG wrong. Either a pro or he’s not, no in-between. https://t.co/TETlvokeOz

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) October 31, 2016

“A young man choosing college should be welcomed, not punished for growing up and living in another country,” Bilas wrote in a text message to the N&O on Monday. “He has exhibited no behavior to indicate he’s a professional. In fact, he’s turning down money to play in college.”

Kentucky Sports Radio on the difference (or lack thereof) between Yurtseven and Kanter case
“What’s the difference between Yurtseven’s case and Enes Kanter’s case? Great question. Both played for Fenerbahçe and both received money from the club, but for some reason, Omer was ruled eligible (albeit with a nine-game suspension) and Enes was not. Omer claimed that the team paid him for the last three years, putting the money into an account they opened in his name, but that he didn’t want or ask for it. Meanwhile, Enes played for Fenerbahçe for the same amount of time, turned down a $6 million contract from the club when he was 16, and the NCAA ruled that because he received more money in expenses for housing, transportation, food, etc. ($33,000, about the same as tuition at a really nice prep school) than they deemed necessary, he wasn’t allowed to play college basketball. Stop me if any of this makes sense.”

Yurtseven’s Lawyer (Don Jackson)  gives he take to N&O

“There was nothing else here. There’s no justification for this. Omer and his family attempted to do everything the right way and based on the NCAA rules, and he still got a nine-game punishment.”

“This wasn’t about the objective, provable facts. It was more of an effort to protect their flawed methodology for future cases.”

“On a yearly basis, the athletes that are selectively targeted are disproportionately African-American and international student-athletes. There’s no justification for this young man to sit nine games or even nine seconds.”

“The (Euro) club went out of its way to undermine Yurtseven’s eligibility”

“Their goal was to prevent him from playing college basketball.”