Justices Void Court Order That Made Muhammed Lasege Eligible
June 14, 2001 | Men's Basketball
June 14, 2001
- AUDIO: Tom Jurich, Rick?Pitino and Muhammed?Lasege react to the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling
- Lasege Will Stay In School After Ruling Ends Basketball Career
By CHARLES WOLFE
Associated Press Writer
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - An injunction that held the NCAA at bay and gave eligibility to a Louisville basketball player was set aside Thursday by the Kentucky Supreme Court.
In a 4-3 ruling, the justices said a lower court judge "clearly erred" in issuing an injunction that allowed Muhammed Lasege, a recruit from Nigeria, to play for the Cardinals.
The 6-foot-11 Lasege was declared ineligible by an NCAA committee because he played briefly with a professional team in Russia. Lasege claimed the "pro" experience was 13 games for a junior club team and that he played for room and board, not money.
In its review, the university also concluded that Lasege was ineligible but petitioned the NCAA for his reinstatement. The NCAA refused, and Lasege sued, charging arbitrary treatment.
In December, Jefferson Circuit Judge Geoffrey Morris in Louisville granted an injunction, and Lasege joined the Cardinals.
Morris said he doubted Lasege's Russian contracts were legal. He also barred the NCAA from enforcing a bylaw under which a school could be penalized if an athlete plays under a court order that later is overturned.
The state Court of Appeals upheld Morris' injunction. But in the majority opinion Thursday, Justice James Keller said Lasege's chances of winning his suit "are too remote to justify injunctive relief." The NCAA's action, far from being arbitrary, was strongly supported by evidence, Keller wrote.
"The trial court wrongfully substituted its judgment for that of the NCAA after it analyzed the evidence and reached a different conclusion as to Lasege's intent to professionalize," Keller wrote. "Lasege unquestionably signed contracts to play professional basketball and unquestionably accepted benefits."
Lasege played in 21 games for the Cardinals, starting 16. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, both of which were lower than his grade-point average as an economics major - 3.9. Lasege was chosen this week to the Conference-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll, reserved for athletes with GPAs of 3.75 or higher.
