Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Hernandez is ineligible, NCAA rules
CORAL GABLES — Hurricanes forward Dewan Hernandez, who has not played in any of Miami’s 12 games this season, has been ruled ineligible by the NCAA, according to his attorney, Jason Setchen.
“Words cannot express my level of frustration and disgust in today’s decision by the NCAA in Dewan Hernandez’s eligibility matter,” Setchen wrote on Twitter late Thursday afternoon. “The arbitrary manner in which they dispense punishment in certain cases is abhorrent and completely unfair.”
Not long after, Hernandez himself took to Twitter, seemingly expressing his thoughts on the day’s developments.
“2019 not starting the way I wanted but hey, I got 362 days to change that around. … #whatsnext,” he wrote.
Setchen’s statement about Hernandez’s case came just hours before the Hurricanes — who have won three
straight — were set to open ACC play with a game against 18th-ranked North Carolina State on Thursday night.
Miami issued a statement: The university is aware of the report but does not have a comment at this time.
Hernandez’s status at Miami came into question in November after his name was linked to Christian Dawkins, one of the defendants in the college basketball corruption trial who was a runner for NBA agent Andy Miller.
In November, ESPN reported that Hernandez was one of 19 players listed in an email by Dawkins as a potential recipient of payments that included $500-per-month installments from September 2017 through January 2018, then $1,000-per-month installments until April 2018. ESPN reported that if Hernandez — who opted to test the NBA waters at the end of last season — left UM, he wouldn’t have to pay the money back. But if Hernandez opted to return to Miami, the payments would be converted to a loan.
ESPN also reported that there was no evidence payments were made or that Hernandez — who changed his last name this offseason after playing as Dewan Huell — even knew of the alleged plan.
“Losing [Hernandez] has really hurt us. It’s hurt us defensively, it’s hurt us rebounding-wise, it’s hurt us offensively,” Miami coach Jim Larrañaga said last month.