NCDS: Billy Hahn, Asst. Coach - West Virginia ("February Boost")

By: Billy Hahn, Asst. Coach - West Virginia

The West Virginia Mountaineers got a booster shot on February 3rd!!  Deniz Kilicli, a 6-foot-9, 265lb center/power forward from Istanbul, Turkey became eligible to play after sitting out our first 21 games.  What a debut for Deniz!!  With a sold out coliseum and people standing in the aisles he was greeted with a rousing ovation when he entered the game against The University of Pittsburgh!

He made quite a first impression as he took four shots and made all four of them!!  The crowd went crazy!!!  He also was one for two from the free throw line and got a big offensive rebound in our 70-51 win over Pitt in our Backyard Brawl game! 

Deniz scored five points in our win against St John's and he scored seven points against Villanova.  He is averaging seven points a game after three games and has only played 26 minutes in those three games!!  Coach Huggins has been bringing Deniz along at a slower pace since he was only able to practice with us since the beginning of the season. Trying to get him in game shape!

Why was he not eligible until February 3rd??  The NCAA ruled that Deniz played some games in Turkey with his club team and they said one of his teammates was a professional.  Being from Turkey and not knowing the NCAA rules he played with his club team.  He did not receive any money and he did not take any expenses to play.  It is very unfortunate that Deniz had to suffer the penalty for something he never knew was wrong.

Deniz and West Virginia University cooperated with the NCAA and provided the NCAA with all of the paperwork and details they asked for.  Their interpretation was since there was a professional on his team that he jeopardized his amateur status.  They suspended him for 21 games!

Deniz could only practice with us and play in our two exhibition games.  He could not travel with us and was left home as we traveled to Anaheim over Thanksgiving.  Deniz was left alone over the holidays.  To his credit he worked extremely hard and had a very positive attitude throughout his suspension!

We are excited to have Deniz playing for us now and expect big things out of him as we enter the stretch drive of our season!  It's good to have another inside scorer and another big body inside!  A booster shot that will hopefully make us better as we enter March Madness!!

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