Haley And Hanna Cavinder released a joint statement following the NCAA’s decision decision Friday to issue an infraction against Miami women’s basketball.
College athletics’ governing body sanctioned Miami’s basketball program after two of the world’s most prominent names NIL Era had a forbidden meal with Miami Booster John Ruiz when they are recruited through the transfer portal.
The Twins were not disciplined and Ruiz was not disassociated from the program. Miami head coach Katie Meier missed the first three games of the 2022-23 season. The NCAA said the ruling would not set a precedent for future NIL-related cases because this case was handled before the organization lowered its violation standards on Jan. 1.
The program carried a one-year probation and fine. It was also part of a strategy by the NCAA to resolve the issue with the program, instead of potentially going to court.
In a TikTok released Saturday morning on their joint account, the twins responded to the NCAA.
With a sound clip playing in the background, the Cavinders are seen in the locker room dancing with the caption “BFFR.”
“Dear NCAA, are you afraid that female athletes have value? Haley tweeted along with the video. “Let’s hoop anyway…”
The twins are represented by Everett Sports Management in their NIL businesses. Contacted on Friday, ESM informed On3 that Miami basketball players would not make any comment.
Their lawyer, Darren Heitner, however, was open on Twitter. The intellectual property lawyer has become a notable figure in the NIL world, known for working with both athletes and collectives. He also helped craft Florida’s first NIL law.
“It’s funny that the first act of the NCAA is related to players who did NOT choose to transfer based on #NIL as countless players across the country change schools PRIMARILY based on NIL offers,” he said. wrote on Twitter Saturday morning.
How did the Cavinder twins get here?
The Cavinder Twins announced their decision in March to enter the transfer portal after playing at Fresno State. After being two of the most marketable names in the college game, the chance to join a Power Five school and compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament was a no-brainer.
On April 13, Ruiz tweeted a photo of his family, with the Cavinder family, in front of his house. “I wish the Cavinder Twins all the best in their quest to find their next home to play basketball,” he wrote.
In the NCAA news published on Friday, it was detailed how this meeting took place.
“At the event, the booster and his family approached the coach to talk about the prospects’ upcoming visit to college,” the NCAA said in its Friday morning release. “The head coach then called the booster to learn more about him and his job, unaware that the booster had previously been in contact with the prospects agent, until the booster informed the coach that the Prospects agent had initially declined a meeting during their next campus visit.
“Regardless, the booster informed the head coach that he was ‘here to help’ and that he wanted women’s basketball to be ‘huge’ in Miami.
Miami is 17-11 this season with a 10-7 record in the ACC. In the final bracketology, the Canes are expected to earn one of the final four byes. A strong finish to the season would ensure they aren’t sitting near the bubble.
Haley has started all 28 games for the Hurricanes this year. She is currently averaging 12.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Hanna has come off the bench in every game this season for Miami, averaging 3.7 points.
