SE HOOPS REMAINS IN LIMBO

Even though today marks the start of the spring signing period when college basketball teams can begin landing players for next season, Southeast Missouri State University's recruiting prospects are on hold until the Indians learn the results of an ongoing NCAA investigation.

"We're not going to be able to come close to signing anybody (today)," said Southeast coach Gary Garner. "All the kids are just wanting to wait and see what happens (with the NCAA)."

Garner and Southeast officials had hoped to have learned of the program's fate with the NCAA some time ago, but that hasn't happened. There is a chance the NCAA will make an announcement in the next several days, but there is even no guarantee of that.

So Garner and his staff continue to wait anxiously.

"We just have to wait. It's very frustrating, not knowing," said Garner.

Although it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Indians' recruiting could be severely hampered by the NCAA not issuing a ruling by now, Garner refuses to make excuses.

But he does wonder why the NCAA is taking so long to make a ruling regarding possible penalties for alleged violations committed under former coach Ron Shumate and his staff.

"I can't figure out why they would wait this long," Garner said. "I really thought we'd hear before the signing date."

Rebecca Wempe, the director of the NCAA's infractions committee, said Tuesday that her committee does try to take into consideration when the various signing periods are.

But that doesn't explain why the NCAA has not yet issued a ruling even though Southeast officials have said they were under the impression they would learn of the program's fate just a few weeks after the school met with the NCAA infractions committee in Florida. That meeting took place on Jan. 31, more than two months ago.

In the meantime, Garner is just hoping that he finds something out soon.

"The sooner the better, for sure," he said.

The spring signing period runs until May 15.

* While Southeast's men's basketball program doesn't plan on signing anybody today, Southeast's women will likely land two players to go along with three the Otahkians inked during the early signing period last fall.

Although coaches are prohibited by the NCAA from commenting on specific recruits until they officially sign, Otahkian coach Ed Arnzen has reportedly received verbal commitments from two high school seniors who plan to sign today.

Those players are 5-foot-5 point guard LaShelle Porter from Evansville, Ind., and 5-8 shooting guard Tiffany Melis from Plymouth, Wis.

Porter averaged 14 points per game for a 21-2 team this year while Melis averaged 21 points a contest.

Those players should help make up one of Arnzen's best recruiting classes ever.

Signing during the early fall period were 5-10 guard/forward Paula Corder from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff and two high school seniors: 6-3 center Pam Iversen from Dennison, Iowa, and 6-1 center Reagan Hughston from West Plains.

Earlier this week Corder was named a first-team junior-college All-American; Iversen was heavily recruited by several major Division I programs; and Hughston was one of the stars of the recent Missouri state tournament as her team captured the Class 4A championship.