LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Mike Chandler, a skilled 6-foot-10 center who has committed to three different schools, is awaiting word from the NCAA on his future and hoping to enroll in college this fall.
According to his uncle, Allan Chandler, Florida State, Missouri, Kansas and St. John’s are among the schools interested in Chandler, who was ranked the No. 5 center in the Class of 2011 by Rivals and previously committed to Louisville, Xavier and Central Florida.
“He’s got a couple schools that are interested in him right now,” Allan told SNY.tv Saturday by phone. “At this point we’re just waiting to hear from the NCAA as far as his eligibility goes and then once we hear from them he’s going to make a decision about where he’s going to school.”
St. John’s coach Steve Lavin has been in touch with Chandler and assistant Tony Chiles has been to see him at Faith Baptist in Florida.
“I haven’t seen Mr. Chiles,” Allan Chandler said. “St. John’s is another school that definitely would be interested.”
As a senior at Lawrence (Ind.) North, Chandler averaged 19.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 2.0 assists per game. He earned Indiana Basketball Coaches Association All-State First Team honors and a spot on the Indianapolis Star Super Team.
In the spring of his senior year he withdrew from classes at Lawrence North, his coach, Jack Keefer, told SNY.tv last summer.
Keefer said his players told him Chandler was “taking online classes” to graduate.
“Then the NCAA came out here and said, ‘We don’t accept those kinds of classes,’” Keefer added.
“If I don’t have the academics, I can’t get into a college, you know?” Chandler told WVIllustrated.com in 2010. “I wish I would have thought about that the way I am now a long time ago. In college, you’re going to be playing a lot of games, so you’ve got to focus on the schoolwork because you’re going to be missing a lot of school.”
Chandler has also been linked to Kenneth Caldwell, a Chicago man with a criminal record who brought unwanted attention to UCF in April because of his relationship with Chandler and Kevin Ware, who is now at Louisville.
Chandler briefly flirted with playing for Chris Chaney at New Hope Academy in Landover, Md., but never ended up there.
His uncle said he’s now at Faith Baptist awaiting word from the NCAA on his future.
“He’s doing fine,” Allan said. “He’s been in prep school. He’s just working and waiting to hear from the NCAA.
“We’re just waiting to see when he’s going to be cleared and once that’s all going to be taken care of we’ll make a decision.”
Asked when that might come, Allan said, “Hopefully, within the next month.”
