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UA Wildcats to grant Negedu full release

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One of the Arizona Wildcats' top incoming recruits wants out, and Lute Olson does not appear willing to let him go.

Emmanuel Negedu, a Top 40 forward in the class of 2008, met with the UA coach on Sunday in Boston and repeated a desire to be released from his binding letter of intent citing recent changes since he signed, according to his AAU coach.

According to Negedu's traveling team coach, Mark Adams, Olson did not offer the recruit an immediate release. So if UA athletic director Jim Livengood honors Olson's wishes — Livengood is the only school official authorized to sign a possible release — Negedu will have to sit out a season and lose a year of eligibility before he can play elsewhere.

"I was always told, and Emmanuel was told when he signed, that if he really wanted a release they would release him," Adams said. "If something came up, and he didn't want to go, they said they'd let him out."

Negedu, who did not return phone messages Sunday from the Star, signed the letter of intent just 10 days after Olson began a leave of absence on Nov. 4. Since the signing, Olson extended his leave to the entire season, all three of UA's assistant coaches last season have departed and standout guard Jerryd Bayless left for the NBA draft.

Three other UA players remain in doubt for next season, too: Forward Chase Budinger may stay in the NBA draft, guard Nic Wise may transfer, and incoming freshman Brandon Jennings has not yet met NCAA eligibility requirements.

Negedu, who is from Nigeria, developed a particularly tight bond with UA assistant coach Josh Pastner, who left last week to take an assistant coaching job at Memphis. But that was not Negedu's only reason to leave, Adams said.

"I know that Emmanuel and Josh were close," Adams said. "It was just everything (at Arizona), really. Looks like it's still going on to me. Josh was doing what's best for Josh and (Negedu) just wants to do what's best for Emmanuel."

The ultimate decision is up to Livengood, who could not be reached for comment Sunday. According to UA compliance director Bill Morgan, the athletic director is the only person from the school who signs off on a letter of intent or a release form.

There are two releases a school can grant: A full release, which allows the player to be eligible immediately at another school, and a partial release, which forces the player to sit out a season but not lose a year of eligibility. Without any form of release, the player must sit out a season and would have only three seasons of eligibility.

If Negedu does not get a release, he either would have to attend the UA, leave for professional basketball outside the NBA (which bars players until a year after they finish high school) or attend a prep school for a fifth year and reopen his recruitment.

Negedu was part of a highly rated UA recruiting class, which also includes Jennings (No. 4 in Rivals.com rankings), center Jeff Withey (No. 36) and wing Brendan Lavender (unranked).

If Negedu does not show up, the UA will have at least three open scholarships for next season unless the Wildcats make a late addition. As of now, there are seven returning players plus the three other recruits.

The Wildcats may offer a scholarship to Brea-Olinda (Calif.) senior guard Kyle Fogg, who is in town taking an official visit to Arizona. Fogg is one of the best remaining unsigned prospects in the class of 2008.

Fogg's coach at Brea-Olinda, Bob Terry, said Friday he believes Fogg would accept a scholarship to Arizona if Olson offers one. Fogg is also being recruited by Providence, San Francisco, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Orleans and Oregon State.