Recker Hopes to Play Earlier at Iowa

Luke Recker is hoping the NCAA will allow him to begin playing basketball at Iowa next season--instead of January 2001--by waiving a rule on transfers.

“There is an appeal process,” said Recker, who announced Dec. 6 that he would transfer from Arizona to be closer to his girlfriend, who is hospitalized in Chicago, and his family. “I’m definitely looking into it.”

Fred Mims, associate athletic director at Iowa, said Tuesday he’d had no discussions with Recker regarding an appeal.

That can’t happen until Recker is enrolled at the university, which could be as early as next week. Second-semester classes begin Jan. 18.

Recker, who concludes first-semester classes at Arizona on Friday, would have been eligible at Arizona the start of the 2000-2001 season. He won’t be eligible to play at Iowa until January 2001, unless he appeals and wins.

The NCAA requires that athletes transferring within Division I sit out one academic year before regaining eligibility.

Recker will be able to practice with the team as soon as he enrolls for second-semester classes. Recker was granted a release Dec. 7 from his scholarship at Arizona, and called Iowa Coach Steve Alford that day to tell him he was joining the Hawkeyes.

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