PHILADELPHIA — Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard says he has not been informed one way or the other by the NCAA about whether Texas transfer Sterling Gibbs has received a hardship waiver to play in the 2012-13 season.
“My compliance director has not heard,” Willard told SNY.tv here at the Reebok Breakout Challenge.
A source close to the situation said the NCAA had asked for more information on Gibbs’ case, and that Seton Hall would provide it.
Willard is watching prospects here and is awaiting the arrival of 2013 commit Aquille Carr, who has missed his team’s first two games. He said he had no further comment.
Still, multiple sources told SNY.tv Wednesday that Gibbs’ waiver had been denied and several reports followed Thursday, including from the Bergen Record and MyCentralJersey.com.
“No matter what happens there, I’m ecstatic to have Sterling on our basketball team for the future,” Willard told SNY.tv in May. “I think he’s got a great future basketball-wise, but I’m looking forward to him in the locker room as a leader. I think the University’s excited and I know our fans are really excited.”
If the Pirates are without Gibbs for the upcoming season, they will rely on former Canarias Basketball Academy guard Tom Maayan and second-year guard Freddie Wilson at the point.
“Tommy’s doing great,” Willard said in May of Maayan, who is recovering from ACL surgery. “He’s in summer school right now. I’d say he’s 85 percent. The only thing he’s pretty much not allowed to do is contact. But he’s pretty much working out every day. He’s in the weight room. He’s working out on his own. Tommy’s doing really well health-wise.
“He is definitely a pass-first, get-you-in-the-offense type point guard. Jordan [Theodore] was a little bit more of a scoring point guard. Tommy’s more of a get everybody involved and has to work on becoming a scoring guard a little bit.”
Willard also envisions using Wilson at the point.
“Freddie Wilson’s still here,” Willard said. “You got Tommy. You know, we won’t play the same way we played last year. Obviously, I set up last year’s team for Jordan to have the basketball and for the basketball to go through Herb. This year what I’m excited about is we have a lot more options.”
