NCAA Committee Reinstates Storozynski's Eligibility
December 01, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 1, 2001
Lubbock - Late yesterday afternoon Texas Tech forward Pawel Storozynski learned the NCAA Reinstatement Committee had ruled on his appeal regarding his collegiate eligibility. The committee ruled that Pawel will have his eligibility restored after serving a seven game penalty as a result of his overseas playing experience in his home country of France while in high school.
After a conference call with Texas Tech officals and Storozynski, the committee ruled that the 6-8 Red Raider forward will be able to return to action beginning with the December 14 contest against Houston in the Compaq Center.
At one point, Storozynski, a native of Lodz, Poland, was facing a potential eleven game suspension. The maximum NCAA penalty for having played in a foreign professional league is reported to be eight games. An additional three-game penalty was being considered for Storozynski because he received educational expenses while still in high school in France.
Texas Tech Athletic Director, Gerald Myers, had asked for Storozynski's eligibility be reinstated immediately. "They were going to penalize him 11 games, but they ended up at seven games. We asked to reinstate him immediately, but he's going to have to sit out one more game."
Until the NCAA's written rationale is received by Texas Tech officials, it appears their rationale was to suspend Storozynski for three games because he received high school educational expenses before his arrival in the United States. One game was included because he played three minutes in one "pro" game as a high school player. The additional three games equates to approximately 10 percent of Texas Tech's 2001-2002 schedule.