Orlando Sanchez’s last chance to realize his dream of playing big-time college basketball was put into play yesterday when St. John’s sent a new appeal to the NCAA to waive its rule regarding eligibility for players 21 or older, sources told The Post.
The documentation was sent on the stationery of the law firm of Poyner Spruill, named one of the nation’s best law firms in 2013 by U.S. News & World Report. Attorney Robert Orr of Pyner Spruill, who is representing Sanchez, said he is optimistic the NCAA will rule in his client’s favor by the end of the week.
If the NCAA denies the waiver, Sanchez has one more appeal before an NCAA subcommittee. Should that also fail, Sanchez and St. John’s would have to decide whether to pursue legal action.
The 6-foot-9 Sanchez, 24, is applying for a waiver based on financial hardship and on decision’s made for Sanchez by his family when he was a minor. Under NCAA rules an individual 21 or older loses one year of eligibility for every year he plays organized competitive ball.
Sanchez played a portion of a season with a Dominican Republic club team, two seasons at Monroe College and three minutes and 38 seconds of one game with the Dominican national team. Orr is hoping to convince the NCAA the rule is inherently flawed and is not being applied correctly.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com