Breaking News/MVC Controversy/Updated

MVC GRANTS ISU’S HAWKINS WAIVER FOR 2014-15

The Missouri Valley Conference has granted Illinois State University men’s basketball student-athlete Deontae Hawkins eligibility for the 2014-15 season under the MVC intra-conference transfer rule, Commissioner Doug Elgin has announced.   

Upon reconsideration of a prior decision, the Conference’s Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Committee determined that Mr. Hawkins should be granted a waiver of the MVC intra-conference transfer rule for the entire 2014-15 season based upon the best interests of the student-athlete and the specific pre-enrollment circumstances present in the case, including that the student-athlete never enrolled at the institution with which he initially signed (Wichita State University).

This reverses the decision that this story originally reported. Read the background to the story here!

(Chicago, IL) – There were some controversial moments at the normally family friendly Missouri Valley Conference media gathering. Recently the league office made a unique decision concerning Illinois State recruit Deontae “Teddy” Hawkins.

The 6’8″ Ohio native arrives in Normal as a very highly recruited and talented player. The problem is that he signed a National Letter of Intent with Wichita State in 2011 and MVC rules state that intra-conference transfers have to sit out two seasons.

Since Hawkins played a year of prep school ball, Illinois State appealed the ruling, hoping to get him back in action sooner. For that to happen, Wichita State would have to release him from the league stipulations and they refused. ISU faced a similar situation last year when Anthony Beane Junior moved from ISU to Southern Illinois to be with his father (Anthony Beane) who is an assistant with Barry Hinson.

League officials met and discussed the situation and came to the conclusion that Hawkins could get back on the court one year early (2014-2015 since he’s a non-qualifier this year) but would have to sit out both regular season games against the Shockers. It was a proposal brought as a compromise option by ISU officials.

League commissioner Doug Elgin told me the committee felt it was a good way to get Hawkins back on the floor.

Several MVC coaches were firm in their opposition to the ruling. Below is a montage of comments by Commissioner Elgin, Hinson and Northern Iowa’s Ben Jacobson. The league coaches gathered at Loyola-Chicago for the annual media day.

Neither ISU Coach Dan Muller nor WSU Coach Gregg Marshall really wanted to make a comment about the situation other than Muller saying he is glad that Hawkins will have four years of eligibility with the Redbirds and glad that he will potentially join the team next year.

As you can see from the quotes, the league was looking for a way to aid Hawkins’ re-entry in to Division I basketball, and you can understand the view of the other coaches.

When Hawkins left Dunbar High School (Ohio) he was rated as one of the top 50 forwards in the country and the fourth best player in his state.  He was a part of two state championship teams. ‘Teddy’ was recruited to Wichita State by then assistant coach Dana Ford who is now an assistant at Illinois State.

The league office says the case is closed.  Some of the coaches are hoping the decision will be reconsidered.

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