The second of three hurdles to German recruit Christian Standhardinger playing basketball for Nebraska this season has been cleared, coach Doc Sadler said Sunday night.
Standhardinger received a visa and arrived in Lincoln late Friday night. That news, in combination with an academic OK from the NCAA Clearinghouse on Aug. 22, puts the 6-foot-8, 210-pound freshman within one step of reaching the court.
It's a big step, all involved admit.
Nebraska is awaiting word from the NCAA on whether Standhardinger can play at all this season because of his past participation on a German club team in which some players were paid.
That's why Sadler won't say whether Standhardinger will enroll at NU today or attend class yet.
"We should know a lot more later Monday,'' the coach said.
One source near the team said Standhardinger may be allowed to play in 50 percent of NU's games. Sadler had no comment on possible penalties.
In previous cases, the NCAA has forced such foreign club players who didn't accept pay — dubbed "vicarious professionals'' — to sit one year and lose one year of eligibility. Among those in that category are Christopher Niemann from Nebraska and Lucca Staiger from Iowa State.
But a change in NCAA legislation on that issue has been drafted and set for a vote in August 2010. NU has cited that change in its appeal on Standhardinger.
Nebraska currently has 14 scholarship players in town. Sadler said Myles Holley, after some travel diffculties, arrived from Virginia on Thursday and took part in his first individual workout on Friday.
A resolution on getting to 13 scholarships may be known by Tuesday, when Sadler is scheduled for a press conference.
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444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com