Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 2, 1994                   TAG: 9401020145
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NCAA SAYS RECRUIT CAN'T PLAY AT WAKE

The NCAA's eligibility staff ruled Thursday that the school's use of an interpreter for the freshman recruit from Senegal constituted an unfair recruiting advantage.

The university had declared Ndiaye ineligible in September because of potential violations. School officials had asked the NCAA to restore his eligibility because they considered the infractions secondary and unrelated to Ndiaye's decision to accept a scholarship.

Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman, who met with Ndiaye on Friday, said he was surprised by the NCAA's ruling and that he expected Ndiaye to transfer to another school.

"It would surprise me if he didn't," Wellman said.

Ndiaye said he learned of the NCAA's decision after he called the NCAA on Thursday to ask whether he would be eligible for that night's game against California.

"I didn't do nothing wrong," Ndiaye said.

In a letter faxed to Wake Forest officials, the NCAA said it had determined that James Davies, an interpreter from Greensboro, N.C., acted as a representative for Wake Forest during its recruitment of Ndiaye.

Davies, a native of Liberia, claimed last year that Wake Forest offered Ndiaye money, clothes, lodging and a job during his senior year at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. Davies said he met Ndiaye upon his arrival from Senegal, loaned him money and provided transportation and lodging for him.

Davies also claimed Wake Forest reneged on promises to pay him for his services as an interpreter.

"I can assure you that Makhtar did nothing wrong," Wake Forest coach Dave Odom said. "He was totally a victim of circumstances, and if I could change that I would. . . . It's a situation that is very regrettable."

Odom also absolved the university of blame.

"If there's blame, it rests at my feet, and I will take sole responsibility for that," he said.

Odom first saw Ndiaye play in 1991 in France. After returning to Winston-Salem, Odom asked Davies to interpret on follow-up calls to Ndiaye's home in Senegal.

Thursday's ruling dealt only with Ndiaye's eligibility at Wake Forest. The NCAA is still investigating the case and will determine whether any sanctions against Wake Forest are warranted.