Kentucky Basketball: Enes Kanter Ruled Permanently Ineligible

The Big Blue Nation found itself in a period of mourning on Friday afternoon, after it was informed that Enes Kanter will be unable to ever take the court for the University of Kentucky.

The NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee upheld its original ruling that Kanter forfeited his amateur status by receiving more than $33,000 in impermissible benefits while playing for a professional Turkish club two years ago.

Kanter was originally ruled ineligible on Nov. 11. The University of Kentucky appealed the decision, but the ruling was upheld. The case was re-opened when the University approached the NCAA with new information on Dec. 8.

School officials had hoped that the precedent set by cases such as that of Cam Newton, Josh Selby and Renardo Sidney would be enough to sway the NCAA's decision-making. Specifically, Kentucky hoped that it could replicate Cam Newton's defense—that the student was unaware of any financial exchanges.

Unfortunately, the NCAA explained that Kanter's situation was different from the previously mentioned cases because of two main facts—first, there was an actual exchange of money, and second, this exchange involved a professional basketball team.

"Although a recent NCAA rule change allows prospective student-athletes to compete on teams with professionals while maintaining their amateur status before college enrollment, the membership maintained the longstanding rule that receipt of money above actual and necessary expenses from a professional team is a violation and defines the individual as a professional under NCAA legislation," said an NCAA representative in a press release. "That was the case here."

This last decision by the NCAA represented the final opportunity that Kanter had of gaining eligibility. The family has stated that it may be open to the avenue of taking legal action against the NCAA, but the likelihood of success is very slim as Kanter is not a U.S. citizen, and the NCAA has not explicitly violated any of its own rules.

An injunction could allow Kanter to continue practicing and even play in games while the case is decided, but if the court ruled against him, then Kentucky would likely have to forfeit any contests in which Kanter participated.

Yet, Kanter's days as a Wildcat are not quite over. The NCAA's stipulations state that, "Kanter will not be allowed to compete, practice or travel with the team as a player, but is able to receive financial aid to continue his education at Kentucky."

This means that Kanter can continue to pursue his degree at Kentucky if he so chooses. Also, the University has stated he will be designated as an undergraduate student-assistant coach, meaning he will still be able to assist the team in some capacity.

The biggest drawback to the NCAA's decision is the fact that Kanter will no longer be able to practice with the team. Conducting scrimmages with a roster as thin as Kentucky's is already quite difficult. Furthermore, practicing everyday against Kanter seemed to have helped in taking Josh Harrellson's game to another level.

Coach Calipari was notably upset by the NCAA's ruling but vowed that he would not give up on the 18-year-old.

"My job will be to prepare him for his entry into the NBA Draft, which this decision by the Association will likely necessitate," said Calipari. "Enes will always be a part of our family, and I plan to be by his side in the green room whenever he is drafted."

So, though Kanter may never take the court as a University of Kentucky player, he will surely remain one of the Big Blue Nation's most beloved Wildcats.

For more University of Kentucky news and analysis, follow me on Twitter @KYSportsBuzz.