LEXINGTON, Ky. _ Kentucky coach John Calipari expressed confidence on Tuesday that the NCAA will rule transfer Olivier Sarr eligible to play this coming season. But he added that the high-profile nature of the decision is a reason the NCAA has yet to announce its decision.
"We feel confident," Calipari said on a Zoom teleconference. "But you never know till you hear it's good to go. He's got a great case. But we'll wait to hear."
Calipari said he could not comment on the elements of UK's appeal that Sarr not have to sit out the 2020-21 season as a transfer. Sarr transferred from Wake Forest, where last season he was named to the All-ACC Third Team and was runner-up in balloting for the ACC Most Improved Player designation.
Sarr, a 7-foot native of France, is seen as key to giving Kentucky a big-man presence. For Wake Forest last season, he scored 30 points and grabbed 17 rebounds against Notre Dame, scored 25 points in a game against Duke and posted a double-double (20 points and 13 rebounds) in an ACC tournament game against Pittsburgh.
Experience with players transferring elsewhere (most recently Johnny Juzang this offseason) gives UK a sense of how the appeal process works, said Calipari, adding that a high-profile case can slow the process. Sarr is considered one of the best transfers this offseason. And Kentucky is Kentucky.
"They'll want to make sure 'Let's really make sure we have this right,'" the UK coach said of the NCAA, "and they may take more time ... .
"I know they don't treat it any differently than any other case. But it is more of a high-profile case, so they'll look at it."
