It was common sense, baby!
The NCAA granted Rutgers forward Kerwin Okoro a waiver following a reconsideration submission, the school announced, after initially turning down the Iowa State transfer’s request to join the Scarlet Knights basketball team despite losing his father and brother in the past year.
Okoro, a 6-foot-5 Bronx product and St. Raymond graduate, credited ESPN announcer Dick Vitale for a huge assist.
“I’d also like to give a shout out to the great @DickieV for his voice on my waiver!” Okoro tweeted. “Truly honored and it is heavily appreciated!”
Okoro’s 72-year-old father, Stanislaus, died last December of a stroke. Then two months later, his 28-year-old brother, Idiongo, died of colon cancer. Okoro came home to be closer to his mother, Eno, and older brother Freddie, 26.
When hearing Okoro’s story, Vitale took to Twitter in support, calling on NCAA president Mark Emmert to change the ruling.
“I’m thrilled, excited, I just [sent] a tweet congratulating the kid,” Vitale told The Post in a phone interview. “It was common sense. I’m so happy the NCAA saw that. It was a no-brainer.”
The next time Vitale walks into the Rutgers Athletic Center, he likely will receive a standing ovation — or at least a big hug from Okoro.
“I just did what I thought was right,” Vitale said. “I’d do it for any kid.”
The NCAA grants transfer waivers to student athletes if an immediate family or legal guardian is injured, suffers from illness or financial hardship. A waiver is also given if a family member has a specific amount of time to live. Death isn’t part of the documented criteria, but the NCAA made an exception.
Vitale is pleased the NCAA came around on Okoro, but said the issue remains unresolved. He also spoke out about the NCAA denying a waiver to Minnesota forward Rakeem Buckles, who left Florida International when head coach Richard Pitino took the same post at Minnesota, and FIU was hit with a postseason ban by the NCAA because of academic deficiencies dating back to the Isiah Thomas regime.
“Just like we demand consistency from officials, we need consistency from the NCAA,” Vitale said. “There’s no consistency. They have to come up with a certain rule that makes it easy to come up with a decision.”
Okoro missed 14 games last season. He averaged 3.6 minutes and one point, though he did play in four of Iowa State’s final 11 games, including the NCAA tournament victory over Notre Dame.
Rutgers is still waiting on the status of sharpshooting forward J.J. Moore, a Pittsburgh transfer from Brentwood, L.I., who applied for a waiver based on his ill grandfather.
The Scarlet Knights are also waiting on the eligibility status of freshman Junior Etou, a forward from Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), but the addition of Okoro gives them 10 players for the coming season in the AAC after five players transferred due to the firing of former coach Mike Rice and the scandal that preceded it.
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Rutgers to retire LeGrand’s No. 52
Rutgers will retire Eric LeGrand’s No. 52 at halftime of their game against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, the first time in the football program’s 144-year history a player will be so honored. The 23-year-old, who suffered a career-ending neck injury against Army in 2010 that left him paralyzed from the neck down, has become one of the program’s most inspirational players.