Is Jordan harboring a ringer?

MANILA, Philippines - A 7-foot former Wake Forest University center from Calau, Germany, is playing for Jordan at the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tianjin and SBP executive director Noli Eala is curious to find out how Dshamal Schoetz, renamed Jamal Almutusem Habes Almaaytah, gained eligibility as a national cager after he was disqualified two years ago.

Eala, who is in Tianjin, said yesterday he sought out FIBA-Asia deputy secretary-general Hagop Khajirian of Lebanon to shed light on Schoetz’s unusual reinstatement but couldn’t locate the official who has been surprisingly scarce. FIBA-Asia secretary-general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock is not in Tianjin as he is recovering from a mild stroke in Kuala Lumpur.

Instead, Eala spoke with FIBA-Asia technical director Col. Lee Kak Kuan of South Korea who disclosed that Schoetz was the last player to be cleared by FIBA-Asia for the tournament.

“According to Col. Lee, his papers were sent to FIBA world headquarters,” said Eala. “There was no explanation on how and why he was cleared.”

Eala described the reinstatement as “a political issue” and will request for an official ruling from the organizing committee. He said a protest is not in the works – yet.

At the FIBA-Asia Championships in Tokushima two years ago, Jordan’s Portuguese coach Mario Palma listed Schoetz in the national lineup but was rebuffed. It was discovered that Schoetz had played for the German national under-18 team in 1998 and under FIBA rules, a cager may suit up for only one country in his lifetime. Because of the FIBA restriction, Schoetz was barred from playing for Jordan – supposedly, forever.

The same FIBA rule was applied when NBA veteran Rony Seikaly tried to play for Lebanon several years ago and was prevented because he had previously seen action for a US junior national team.

But in Schoetz’ case, the rule was apparently bent backwards. Schoetz, 28, played for Jordan at the recent Jones Cup and is now averaging 6.3 points, five rebounds and 11.7 minutes in Tianjin.

Smart-Gilas national developmental coach Rajko Toroman, who is with Eala in Tianjin, said he asked Palma about Schoetz and was told FIBA-Asia admitted making a mistake in disqualifying the 7-footer in Tokushima. Palma, however, did not explain the basis for the reversal.

Schoetz, who weighs 263 pounds, was born in Calau and attended high school at Sportgymnasium Halle. As a teenager, he played for the German national junior squad that went up against other European teams and a US selection that included future NBA star Carlos Boozer. That stint was the basis of his disqualification in Tokushima.

From Germany, Schoetz moved to Wesleyan Academy high school in High Point, North Carolina, then played six games for Wake Forest, Tim Duncan’s alma mater, in 2002-03. One of his Wake Forest teammates was Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard.

After a season at Wake Forest, Schoetz transferred to Greensboro College, a Division III school in North Carolina, and averaged 8.8 points in 2003-04. A highlight of his Greensboro career was when he compiled 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead the varsity to an 83-76 win over Chowan.

Schoetz is not the only Jordan player with US NCAA credentials. Others are naturalized player Rasheim Ali Abdul Wright of Division II school District of Columbia, US-born Russian Enver Soobzokov of California State at San Bernardino, NBA D-League veteran Sam Daghlas of Midwestern State and 6-9 Zaid Al-Khas of Gannon University in Pennsylvania.