Turns out that Jin Soo Kim, freshman forward for the University of Maryland, has been declared academically ineligible to play basketball: Jin Soo Kim Academically Ineligible. He's the first native South Korean athlete to play for NCAA basketball... though at the moment, it doesn't look like he'll be playing this season, according to the school.
What exactly does "academically ineligible" mean? The university isn't releasing any specific details regarding Kim's academic status in compliance with the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act. But he's currently enrolled in a university program available to students for whome English is a second language.
After initially being denied his eligibility for the 2008-09 season, Kim was declared eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse in November after receiving more documentation from Maryland regarding online correspondence courses Kim took during the fourth quarter of his final year at South Kent School in Connecticut. Did something fall through the cracks?
The decision is effective immediately, though Kim will still be able to practice with the team. Maryland is reportedly appealing the decision to the NCAA. More here: Terps' Kim academically ineligible.
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