University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Basketball Standout Held Out of Competition
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
November 13, 1998
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - University of North Carolina sophomore forward Vasco Evtimov will be held out of competition by UNC until a matter concerning his eligibility is resolved between the school and NCAA.
Evtimov played at UNC in 1996-97, but spent 10 months in the French Military beginning in July 1997 to fulfill a mandatory stint in the armed forces. (Evtimov is a native of Sofia, Bulgaria, but has dual citizenship because his parents live near Lyon, France.) While serving in the military, Evtimov was directed by French Basketball Federation and military officials to play for and practice with a club team near his base in addition to his other military duties. (The French Basketball Federation governs all of basketball in France.) Playing with a club team is the only means in which a member of the French military can try out for the National Team. Evtimov played for Pau-Orthez, a club team that competes in France's top league. "We have been working with officials at the NCAA to clear up this eligibility issue," says athletic director Dick Baddour.
"It's a situation that apparently has never happened before, thus there is no legislative precedent. Vasco was serving in the French Army and was instructed by the French Basketball Federation that he could only try out for the National Team by playing for a club team near his tour of duty. The NCAA rules do allow for a student-athlete to play in outside competition after enrolling, if he does so as a tryout for one's National Team. We believe Vasco did just that."
NCAA rules stipulate once a student-athlete participating in men's basketball enrolls at a Division I school, he is not allowed to play in any outside competition or forfeit his eligibility from that point forward. However, there are several exceptions to this rule, including tryouts for one's respective National Team. NCAA Bylaw 14.7.5.1(e) states:
"A student-athlete may participate in official tryouts and competition involving national teams sponsored by the appropriate governing bodies of the U.S. Olympic Committee (or, for the student-athletes representing another nation, the equivalent organization of that nation)
UNC officials will continue to discuss their case with the NCAA again next week and hope for a ruling on the matter in the most expedient time possible.
