The NCAA Is Jealous Of The Move Pulled By The Alabama High School Association For Suspending A Player Over Team USA Sending A Check By Mistake

[ESPN] - Kelley and coach Dyneshia Jones told Davenport that she had been ruled ineligible for the rest of her senior season. At issue was a stipend check for $857.20 sent to Davenport by USA Basketball. Davenport had led Team USA in rebounding and blocks en route to a gold medal in Mexico City at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in August.

Typically, USA Basketball confers with high school federations to determine if players are allowed to accept payments. But due to an error USA Basketball admits it made, no call was made to the Alabama High School Athletic Association, which does not allow payments of more than $250.

When USA Basketball realized its mistake, it notified Henderson and the AHSAA. Davenport then sent the money back. But the AHSAA ruled that she was ineligible for one season.

This might be it. This might be the dumbest suspension of the year for basketball – at any level. Think about it for a second. Team USA sent an incorrect check for $850 after a player traveled with Team USA to Mexico for the event. Because of a mistake from Team USA, not the player, not the family, not the high school team, the No. 15 player in America for women’s basketball – Maori Davenport is suspended for the year.

Again, who is this hurting? This isn’t giving an advantage to Davenport or her team. It’s a stipend, which is commonly given to NCAA players when they represent Team USA. Are we really going to pretend that someone is a professional or that their eligibility was ruined because of a relatively small stipend check?

The good thing is the NCAA is putting USA Basketball in charge of more stuff thanks to the Rice Commission! Clearly, they know how to handle basic situations like calling associations to make sure players don’t get suspended for the year. This move though is really one that you know the NCAA is jealous of. They are just waiting to suspend a player for a check accidentally arriving only for them to make a big deal of it. They are for sure marking this one down.

And if this wasn’t dumb enough, there have been two appeals that have been upheld. What a bunch of goddamn stupid people.