Alexandre Gavrilovic, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound French post player, is not qualified to play at Providence this season because of a conversion issue related to his French grades.
“It is very hard for Alex and we are very disappointed,” Corinne Gavrilovic, Alex’s mother, wrote in an email to Dan Barto, her son’s coach at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
According to Barto, the problem stems from how the NCAA is converting the grades of French students who come to the U.S.
“The NCAA is using a different conversion for French students than the one used by the government of France,” Barto wrote in an email.
“Many great students from France are not getting through the clearinghouse because of this error. There are 10-12 other high-level athletes that were not weighted properly. It is not fair to have to go to junior college or sit out a whole year when they excelled in their French high school and met the requirements.”
Corinne Gavrilovic said her son remains in France but won’t have an opportunity to enroll in school this year.
“The situation is very critical,” she wrote in an email to Barto.
“We have no serious option by the time and if Alex stays in France he is registered in no university. University beginning is on 24 August for 1st year students and all the universities are now closed for holidays until mid August.”
Providence coach Keno Davis was not immediately available for comment.
When Gavrilovic committed in May, Davis had high praise for him.
“Alexandre will be a strong addition to our program,” Davis said. ”He has a combination of size, skill and intelligence. Alexandre can hit jump shots as well as mix it up on the boards.”
Remi Barry, a 6-7 wing from Del Oro (Calif.) High School, is also a French native who is considering St. John’s, UCLA and Arizona State.
But sources said Barry’s issues with the NCAA Clearinghouse are not necessarily the same as Gavrilovic’s.
One source with knowledge said Barry was facing a combination of factors in his battle with the NCAA.
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