The NCAA is turning its attention abroad as well as home when it comes to amateurism issues in Division I men's basketball. A July 3 memorandum to about 60 Division I institutions identifies specific international student-athletes in men's basketball who the NCAA enforcement staff believes may have eligibility issues.

The July 3 letter to athletics directors identifies specific student-athletes and their eligibility issues and asks the institutions to provide additional information to determine if the student-athletes are eligible.

After four years of increased efforts to learn more about international student-athletes, the leagues they play in and whether the athletes are compensated for playing, the enforcement staff sent two representatives to Europe this spring to discuss the challenges in depth with International Federation of Basketball (FIBA) officials and gain clarity on the status of international student-athletes currently on NCAA rosters.

Now that the staff is up to speed on the climate overseas, the goal is to clean up current issues -- and prevent further inconsistencies -- so that a level playing field is maintained when it comes to the recruitment of international student-athletes.

"As recruiting has increased internationally, so have inequities between domestic and international student-athletes," said the NCAA's Bill Saum, director of agent, amateurism and gambling activities. "We need to make sure we are addressing domestic and international student-athletes consistently. This is an issue that has been gaining momentum for several years. It's time to address it head-on."

The July 3 letter includes an educational document detailing the European basketball structure in general, as well as country by country. The educational piece, along with numerous international Web sites, will be posted on NCAA Online (www.ncaa.org) later this month.

The letter also assigns each institution a specific investigator and an NCAA membership services representative to assist in reviewing pertinent information. Each letter also includes specific documentation pertaining to the student-athletes in question.

Growing concern

Professional players in many leagues throughout Europe have the potential to earn large salaries but may be participating with a younger player that receives little or no compensation. Clubs also may sign younger players to agreements that provide small salaries, educational expenses, or actual and necessary expenses for their participation at any level for the club.

"The increased popularity of basketball in Europe is having an effect on how many leagues throughout the world market and promote themselves as professional," Saum said. "Many of these leagues want to retain their younger players by providing them with financial incentives that will keep them from enrolling at NCAA schools.

"It appears that European basketball officials are well aware of the revenue created by the NBA and want to create the same atmosphere in their countries. Therefore, eligibility issues regarding prospective or enrolled student-athletes' participation history in these leagues should be a concern."

Saum said in analyzing whether a particular sports team is considered professional under NCAA amateur regulations, the following questions should be posed:

Does the team recognize or promote itself as a professional (or semiprofessional) sports organization? If so, the team would be considered a professional team and all members of the team would jeopardize intercollegiate eligibility in the applicable sports.

Is the team directly supported or sponsored by a team that recognizes or markets itself as a professional (or semiprofessional) team? If so, the team would be considered a professional team and all members of the team would jeopardize intercollegiate eligibility in the applicable sport.

Is the team a member of a league that recognizes itself as a professional (or semiprofessional) league or is directly supported or sponsored by a team or an organization that recognizes or promotes itself as a professional (or semiprofessional) league? If so, all teams in the league are considered to be professional teams.

"Either one of these circumstances, independent of each other, likely would result in a violation of NCAA rules."