Maryland’s Kim Is Eligible, After All

The NCAA Clearinghouse declared Maryland freshman Jin Soo Kim eligible for the 2008-09 season yesterday, three days after initially ruling Kim could not compete this year.

After receiving further documentation from Maryland regarding online correspondence courses Kim took during the fourth quarter of his final year of high school — he graduated in three years — the NCAA reversed the decision it had made on Friday to declare Kim ineligible.

Kim, a 6-foot-7 forward, had surgery on his shoulder in the spring. For insurance purposes he underwent the surgery in his native South Korea and withdrew from classes at South Kent School in Connecticut. The correspondence courses Kim took to complete his high school coursework had come under question by the NCAA, but those questions appear to have been answered sufficiently. Kim will begin practicing with the Terrapins tomorrow.

From the Washingtonpost.com

Jin Soo Kin Denied Eligibility

Barring Reversal, Maryland Loses Basketball Recruit Kim
 
Saturday, November 1, 2008; Page E02
Maryland freshman Jin Soo Kim was denied eligibility by the NCAAClearinghouse yesterday, according to a source close to the situation. However, the decision is not yet final. Maryland has until Thursday to submit further documentation verifying that Kim was the one who took the exams necessary to complete online correspondence courses he took last spring while recovering from shoulder surgery, according to the source, who requested anonymity because the decision is pending.
Kim, a 6-foot-7 small forward, underwent shoulder surgery during the fourth quarter of his senior year at South Kent School in Connecticut. Kim’s insurance company required him to return to his native South Korea for the surgery, which forced him to withdraw from classes at South Kent. While recovering from the surgery, Kim took online correspondence courses that have come under question by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Should the eligibility denial become final, Kim would have to attend a junior college to become academically qualified before he could return to Maryland and play for the Terrapins. A message left seeking comment from a Maryland spokesman late last night was not immediately returned. .

from the Washingtonpost.com