University of North Carolina Athletics
Evtimov to Sit 13 More Games
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
November 20, 1998
CHAPEL HILL --- University of North Carolina sophomore forward Vasco Evtimov must sit out a total of 16 games as a result of playing in 16 games in the French National A League as the tryout for the French National Team, it was determined late Thursday by the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement. One matter still pending with the NCAA could potentially lessen the number of games Evtimov must miss. It concerns the details of the tryout process for the French National Team. If that matter can be clarified to the satisfaction of the NCAA Committee on Reinstatement, then it is possible the Committee may reduce the length of time of Evtimov must sit out. Evtimov, a native of Sofia, Bulgaria, attended UNC and played on the men*s basketball team in 1996-97. He was required to serve a one-year stint in the military, an obligation he was required to have finished by July 1998. If he had not served his tour of duty by that time, he would have lost his Bulgarian citizenship. Evtimov, a dual citizen of Bulgaria and France, was allowed to serve in the French military and was told by the French Basketball Federation that if he wished to qualify for the French National Team as a member of the military, he would have to play for a top-level club team as part of the official tryout process. Evtimov played in 16 games for Pau-Orthez, a club team located in Pau, France, near his military base. The NCAA said it was a violation of the NCAA Bylaw which states student-athletes are not allowed to play with a professional team, even if the student-athlete is not getting any compensation, which Evtimov was not. Evtimov has not played in the Tar Heels* three regular-season games this year against Appalachian State, Florida International or Georgia. He must remain out of the next 13 games, although he is allowed to practice with the team. He is eligible to return to competition on Wednesday, January 6, at Florida State.
"I'm disappointed Vasco has had to sit out any games, because he was following the instructions given to him by the French military and Basketball Federation as to how he could try out for the French National Team," says UNC Director of Athletics Dick Baddour. "However, I*m glad for Vasco the situation is for the most part resolved and he will be eligible to play again in January. He has handled the situation in a first-class manner in his dealings with both University and NCAA officials. The hardest part of this entire situation was seeing Vasco face being ineligible, even though he had listened to what the authority figures in his life had told him to do. Vasco is a good student, and even though this never affected his academic standing at Carolina, we*re delighted he will be able to resume his basketball career in due time." "I*m sorry for Vasco," says head coach Bill Guthridge. "He*s a fine person who has kept his head up while all this was being handled. We look forward to his being able to help us in games, although he continues to help us each day in practice by working hard and showing great enthusiasm."
