Most University of Hawaii athletic teams made gains in the NCAA’s Academic Progress Ratings but men’s basketball can ill afford any more defections, officials told the Board of Regents.
GRADING UH
The APR is an NCAA measurement of academic progress and retention. The highest possible score is 1,000 with 930 being the benchmark below which teams may face sanctions including loss of scholarships or a postseason ban. Below is UH’s multi-year Academic Progress Rates by sport:
| Sport |
APR |
| Softball |
993 |
| Women’s tennis |
992 |
| Women’s swimming |
989 |
| Men’s golf |
985 |
| Water polo |
984 |
| Track (indoor, |
| outdoor) |
979 |
| Women’s basketball |
977 |
| Cross country |
975 |
| Soccer |
972 |
| Men’s volleyball |
970 |
| Football, baseball, men’s tennis |
966 |
| Women’s golf |
965 |
| Women’s volleyball |
962 |
| Men’s swimming |
962 |
| Men’s basketball |
954 |
Note: Through 2013-14 academic year. Source: UH
|
"Men’s basketball lost two players (Isaac Fotu and Sammis Reyes), so we took a hit with them," athletic director Ben Jay said. "We just can’t sustain any more losses."
Softball (993), women’s tennis (992) and women’s swimming and diving (989) topped the list. The highest score possible is 1,000.
The APR, which measures academic progress and retention, deducts a point for each player who is academically ineligible at semester’s end or who departs the school with less than a 2.6 grade-point average without graduating.
Players who are both ineligible and exit count as a double whammy.
Jay said Fotu and Reyes will cost UH the maximum four points. Fotu left in October following his suspension by UH and played professionally in Spain. Reyes announced plans to leave after the dismissal of coaches Gib Arnold and Brandyn Akana, but returned, suffered a season-ending injury and finally chose to transfer to a school in Florida.
Jay said UH officials have calculated that the men’s basketball team, which had a score of 954 for the four-year rolling period ending 2013-14, lowest among 18 teams, can post a 948 APR for 2014-15 if no additional players transfer. That is above the 930 benchmark below which teams may face sanctions, including loss of scholarships or postseason bans.
"But if there were any additional transfers, that would impact us," Jay said. "We’re watching the situation very closely."
Between 2004 and ’08, men’s basketball, football and baseball teams were all assessed scholarship reductions.
With the latest numbers, regent Jeff Portnoy said, "we were happy that all of our programs are substantially in compliance with the minimum APR requirements and that there is continuing improvement in the academic performance of our student athletes."
Jay said, "there isn’t a better day for me than the two days we have each year for graduation when I get to thank and talk to the families of our athletes who walk away with a degree that day."
