Hoop Hogs get head start in classroom
BY TERRY J. WOOD -Northwest Arkansas Times
The Arkansas Razorbacks' five freshman basketball players are taking advantage of a new NCAA rule to get a head start in the classroom.

Jonathan Modica, Eric Ferguson, Kendrick Davis, Rashard Sullivan and Wen Mukubu are in the midst of their first semester at the UA and are all hoping to begin their academic careers with a solid footing by taking two classes.

"They began classes July 1 and are doing a good job," said UA basketball academic advisor Fernandez West. "I like the new rule and it seems to be working well for our freshmen."

Razorback head coach Stan Heath said he believes it is one of the best new rules the NCAA has instituted and has seen nothing but positives from it.

"I think it is really helping smooth the transition for the kids," Heath said. "It's giving them an idea of what college life is about both in the classroom and by spending time with their new teammates."

Student-athletes have routinely moved to Fayetteville the summer before their freshman year to participate in informal workouts with their new teammates prior to this season. Some even took summer courses.

However, prior to this summer, the NCAA prohibited student-athletes to be placed on scholarships by its member institutions until the fall session of their freshman year.

"In the past if the freshmen came in early, they had to pay tuition for themselves," West said. "Some could afford to do it, but most couldn't. Some would get jobs, but others couldn't because they would have to quit once school started."

West believes the new rule will help ease the transition both academically and socially.

"It gives them a chance to get their feet on the ground academically before the pressure of practice, travel and games come into play," West said. "I think it will also ease some of the homesickness that every freshman feels at some time or the other.

"The summer session is just six weeks and there will be two weeks between it and the fall semester. That will give the kids a chance to go home for a little while.

"For a lot of the basketball players, especially the ones from far away, they might not have a chance to go home until the season is over in March once the fall session begins."

Mukubu said he is pleased with the situation.

"I'm taking classes in the morning and working out with my new teammates in the evening," he said. "I think it's good because I'm learning my way around. I know it will be a lot more rushed this fall."

Razorback senior Alonzo Lane said he wished he had the opportunity to take classes the summer prior to his freshman season.

"It's a good deal for these guys," Lane said. "They can knock out six hours quickly. They have no idea all the things that will be coming at them this fall with basketball and school and getting used to a new environment.

"I came up and worked out with the team the summer before my freshman year, but I couldn't take classes. If I could have gotten in six hours then, I'd be that much closer to my degree."

West said all of the Razorbacks are enrolled in core courses that will advance them toward gaining their degrees.

"They are taking a variety of courses -- social sciences, history, fine arts," West said. "We're making sure they are taking courses that will help them get their degree."