UPDATED: APR discussion prompts response from former Hog
May 1st, 2009 ║ Posted By: MrSEC.com ║ Permalink
Content provided by The Slophouse.
The NCAA’s annual release of the Academic Progress Report usually goes by without much notice by fans at some campuses. This year at Arkansas, that’s not the case.
If you haven’t already, make sure to read Bob Holt’s article today on athletic director Jeff Long’s thoughts and worries on the near-certain promise of a lower-than-desired APR score for the Razorbacks basketball team. The NCAA will release the score next week, but it’s believed the Hogs’ number will be below the NCAA benchmark of 925.
Here are the bare bones you’ll need to know from Holt’s report:
An APR multi-year score of 925 – which the NCAA equates to an approximate graduation success rate of 60 percent – is considered the cutoff point at which teams could be penalized by losing up to 10 percent of their scholarships.
Arkansas’ multi-year score in men’s basketball last year was 944, but that figures to drop in the latest report.
Why? Well, because none of Arkansas’ six seniors listed on the roster in the 2007-08 academic year graduated, Long revealed. And the departure of Patrick Beverley last summer didn’t help matters. Will it be enough, though, to knock Arkansas’ four-year APR score below 925? We’ll find out next week.
But here’s some good news. The report in today’s newspapers evoked a response from one of those former Razorbacks today on Twitter. Steven Hill, the 7-foot center known for his shot-blocking and defensive prowess, cleared the air with a tweet this afternoon.
stevenhill01: Its now public that I didnt get my degree. Im 1 online class away and am enrolling in it tomorrow. I will have my degree in 7 weeks or less.
Congratulations, Steven.
UPDATE (11:15 p.m.): Hill posted another update late Thursday night:
stevenhill01: Since Twitter has shown it can be far reaching, I would like to apologize for not finishing my degree sooner. Sure dont wanna hurt my Hogs.
Hill was in the NBA for a short period of time with the Oklahoma City Thunder this past season, and played in seven games for the franchise’s NBDL affiliate in Tulsa. Injury cut his season short, but he started in five of seven game appearances and averaged 7.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game.
Next year’s APR score will be interesting, too. The departures of Montrell McDonald, Brandon Moore and Andre Clark figure to factor into the score.
The APR is serious business, folks. A score below the benchmark the first time usually merits a word of warning from the NCAA. A second year of a low score in the multi-year report — called “occasion two” — results in scholarship and practice restrictions. The Tennessee-Chattanooga football program has reportedly hit “occasion three penalties” with its upcoming multi-year APR score, according to a report in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
As a result, the Mocs are banned from postseason play next season, and will lose 3.15 scholarships and four hours of team time, according to the report.
– Brandon Marcello
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