If Colonial Athletic Association commissioner Tom Yeager does pull enough strings with the NCAA to get John Naparlo, a.k.a. Johnny Napp, back on the basketball court, would there still be a spot for him?
James Madison basketball coach Dean Keener wouldn't commit one way or another, pointing out that the former walk-on guard had missed the entire pre-season.
"I'd have to talk to Tom first and see how likely it is," Keener said. "If it did sound positive, then I'd have to talk to John and he and I would have to talk to find out where he's at with things and where we're at with the team. I don't think I could say yes or no at this point."
But Keener said he was happy to know that Yeager was sticking up for Naparlo,
who gave up his senior season to pursue his country music singing career. The
NCAA told him he would have to take his image off of all of his promotional
material in order to maintain his amateurism and eligibility. Naparlo declined.
"It's nice to know that Tom has taken up for John and is trying to say,
'Maybe there's something wrong with this,'" Keener said.
Yeager revealed last week that he is chatting with the NCAA officials, hoping
to convince them to allow Naparlo to both sing and play basketball.
His argument: common sense.