- Associated Press - Friday, December 3, 2010

LEXINGTON, KY. (AP) - The University of Kentucky is asking the NCAA to take a second look at the eligibility of freshman center Enes Kanter.

The school and the NCAA put out a joint statement Friday saying Kentucky has asked for an opportunity to submit additional information about Kanter’s eligibility.

“When a school receives new information that could impact a student-athlete’s eligibility, it is a standard NCAA process to provide the university with an opportunity to resubmit the case for consideration,” the statement said.

The NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff ruled the 6-foot-11 Kanter permanently ineligible last month because he received benefits above his actual and necessary expenses while playing for a club basketball team in Turkey.

The NCAA decided Kanter received over $33,000 above his necessary expenses for the 2008-09 season.

Kentucky coach John Calipari has maintained Kanter remained an amateur while playing for the club team, saying a portion of the extra benefits were for “educational” purposes and that Kanter’s intent was not to become a professional.

The school appealed the initial decision before opting to ask for the chance to offer new information. Kanter is allowed to practice with the team while the situation remains in review.

The 10th-ranked Wildcats play North Carolina on Saturday.

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