Sept. 13, 2001

LAS VEGAS - The NCAA notified UNLV athletic department officials Thursday that the initial eligibility waiver request for Ernest Turner, a 6-2 freshman guard on the men's basketball team, has been successful. Turner is now eligible for practice and competition immediately.

Turner had not met NCAA initial eligibility requirements as a result of falling 10 points short of meeting the SAT minimum score of 820.

UNLV filed an appeal with the NCAA in August citing extenuating circumstances as to why an exception to the initial eligibility requirements should be made in this case, specifically the fact that Turner had been diagnosed with a learning disability.

"This demonstrates to both the UNLV and Las Vegas communities that the NCAA does indeed treat our institution in a fair manner," said Eric Toliver, UNLV Associate Athletics Director for NCAA Compliance. "The NCAA empathized with Mr. Turner's situation and believed that his learning disability played a role in his failure to meet the minimum requirements. Here at UNLV, we applaud the NCAA's interpretation of our waiver request."

The NCAA reviewed the case Thursday and proceeded to notify the school of its decision.

"We are obviously very pleased," UNLV men's basketball head coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "I am extremely happy for our basketball program, but more so for Ernest who is just a super young man."