Top Recruit Asks For Release From UofA Basketball Program
The News: Emmanuel Negedu, an athletic 6’7” forward from Nigeria, one of Lute Olson’s top recruits for 2008, has requested to be released from his letter of intent to the University of Arizona.
When asked about his reasoning for leaving he stated:
“There have been so many changes that I feel they’ve lied to me all along about the situation,” Negedu said. “Everything has changed a lot since I’ve signed down there. I can’t take it no more. Before I signed with Arizona they said it was fun, the players loved it and everything, But when I took my official visit no one seemed happy. Everything changed. Lute Olson left, taking a break. No one (knew) where he went.”
Olson found out about the request Sunday morning while he met with Negedu in the Boston area. Olson has yet to grant him a release and it appears may not grant him one at all.
According to NCAA rules if Negedu is not released from his letter of intent he must sit out one season and lose a year of eligibility.
Our Take: This is yet another tough blow for the University of Arizona basketball program. As if a year in limbo wasn’t bad enough the team now has to deal with the blow back from Lute’s absence.
This is direct proof that, whether he wants to admit it or not, Lute Olson and his secrecy has hurt the UofA program.
The fact that Lute may not grant Negedu’s wish seems petty at best. Negedu expresses valid concerns about the programs stability and future both on the bench and on the court. It looks as if Olson is being selfish in trying to hold him hostage for a year.
With the loss of Negedu (a top 40 prospect) and If Chase Budinger stays in the draft, Nic Wise transfers and incoming freshman phenom Brandon Jennings is ineligible to play, next years edition of Wildcat basketball look a lot more like the 2005 edition of ASU basketball than the 2005 edition of UofA hoops.
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Posted by Greg Esposito
Co-founder of AzSportsHub.com. Greg provides the sometimes serious, sometimes sarcastic and always interesting takes on Arizona sports (at least we hope). Whether it’s on In The Zona with Matt or in his column Greg reports, rants and raves about whatever is in the news for Arizona Sports.
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The blows keep on coming….this is seriously out of control. Lute has to stop the bleeding now. He has to find a way to get Budinger to come back for one more season and convince Nic Wise to stay. If he doesn’t, he is in bigger trouble than we can even surmise. The Tucson faithful won’t stay with him through a losing season after all of this.
[…] fit elsewhere.” Closer to the truth, with a mild jab at the coach and his system. Worst: “I feel they’ve lied to me all along about the situation.” Dead-on honest, with a laser sight on the man in […]
[…] for the University of Arizona basketball program. In a week where a top recruit, Emmanuel Negedu , was released from his letter of intent and head coach Lute Olson told fans to give up their tickets if they weren’t happy, any news is […]
[…] None of that really strikes confidence in fans, players (see Nic Wise, Mohamed Tangara, Chase Budinger or Jerryd Bayless) or possible recruits (see Emmanuel Negedu). […]