[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

8/16/06

WALKER APPEAL: North College Hill basketball star Bill Walker will seek to regain his eligibility at an OHSAA Board of Control appeals hearing today.
An OHSAA spokesman said Walker probably will not be reinstated to play his senior year at NCH this coming season, but the nationally known player nonetheless will have his eligibility appeal heard today (10 a.m.) at the OHSAA office in Columbus.
The OHSAA Board of Control ruled July 10 that Walker, ranked the nation's No. 6 senior by Rivals.com, has exhausted his varsity eligibility of eight semesters. An OHSAA investigation determined Walker played two ninth-grade semesters in the 2002-03 school year at Rose Hill Christian in Ashland, Ky., then attended six semesters at NCH (2003-04, '04-05 and '05-06 seasons).
Bob Goldring, an OHSAA assistant commissioner, said appeals in such cases usually are unsuccessful.
"Generally, the OHSAA board will not overturn a ruling by the staff," Goldring said.
Richard Katz, Walker's attorney, said his research shows Walker never actually completed eighth grade in 2002-03. Walker has attended various schools in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia since he was a youngster, including three schools during the 2002-03 school year.

E-mail tgroeschen@enquirer.com
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