Bradley is put on hold

Bradley basketball recruit John Wilkins said Tuesday he will not sign a National Letter of Intent with any school during the one-week signing period that begins Wednesday.

“I’m going to wait until the end of the season,” Wilkins said by telephone from Southeastern Iowa Community College in West Burlington, Iowa. “To not be pressured and all that.”

When asked if he would eventually still like to come to BU, Wilkins said he was. When asked if he had interest in attending any other school, he replied: “Not at this point.”

Wilkins also indicated his father, Jeff, is planning to file an injunction against the National Junior College Athletic Association.

The injunction would seek to overturn the NJCAA’s ruling that declared John Wilkins ineligible this season because he played in five professional games three years ago in his native Belgium.

SCC already has played three games. It plays host Wednesday to Black Hawk.

“(An injunction filing) has to be between the father and the lawyer,” SCC coach Terry Carroll said. “We’ve exhausted all avenues we can do from the college to the organization. His dad told me he was all for (filing the injunction).”

In August 2008, the 6-foot-9 Wilkins orally committed to Bradley one month after he arrived in the United States from Belgium. He took up residence in Gary, Ind., with his father, a standout with Illinois State in the 1970s.

The younger Wilkins’ original plan was to enroll at Bradley at semester’s end. But the NCAA ruled him ineligible because of incomplete high school transcripts from Belgium.

The NCAA also issued Wilkins a future five-game suspension for his participation in the pro contests.
Wilkins then enrolled at Southeastern Iowa last January as a student and practiced with the basketball team. Wilkins’ intent was to play the 2009-10 season at SCC and earn his associate’s degree so he could become NCAA eligible.

But the NJCAA declared Wilkins ineligible for the season as it cited its 1-year-old rule regarding professionalism of prospective junior-college athletes. Wilkins’ appeal was denied by the organization last week.

“They’re really playing hardball,” Carroll said following the ruling. “The NJCAA is supposed to protect the student-athlete and give him a fair shake.”

Bradley, which has two scholarships to give for next season, is not expected to sign any other players during the early period.

Dave Reynolds can be reached at 686-3210 or dreynolds@pjstar.com.