Coach John Calipari confident freshman center Enes Kanter will be cleared to play for Kentucky

Calipari confident Kanter will play for Wildcats

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky coach John Calipari believes that freshman center Enes Kanter is an amateur and that club team officials have “four million reasons” why they want him to return to Turkey.

Calipari says he is confident the 6-foot-11 center will play for the Wildcats this season because he was under 18 when he played for a professional team in Turkey last year.

The coach said Thursday he believes Kanter did not sign a FIBA contract with the team in Turkey. However, the club would receive a transfer fee if Kanter plays in Europe next season instead of at Kentucky.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that team officials claim they paid Kanter more than $100,000 in cash and benefits.

The NCAA is reviewing Kanter’s status.