possibly the next wunderkind outta germany, lucca staiger – freshman at iowa state university, recently received a maximum penalty of one year eligibility loss by the ncaa. why? because he was good enough to play on a 2nd league squad, steeples ehingen. the team is well respected for constantly producing big time talent, which means integrating high schoolers in men’s play, a common practice in european basketball. ehingen always boasts the youngest player average in the league, and makes major contributions in regards to schooling young players. steeples ehingen is closely linked to the basketball academy urspring, which has dominated almost every category of under-18 competition over the last several years.
lucca and other high schoolers that have gone (and are still going) through the ehingen/urspring programm never received improper compensation, a fact which the ncaa has clearly acknowledged. the problem seems to be that the ncaa has concluded steeples ehingen to be a “professional” team, because two players (vets) received benefits in excess of ncaa limits. but does that make lucca a professional? we think not. he never got paid! all he got was a beautiful j, uncanny court vision and a knack for the unexpected assist. let the boy play!

sign the petition now at: www.freelucca.com/

lucca staiger and nicolai simon (now with euro league squad alba berlin) got their basketball education at urspring academy. which paid off big time, strictly figuratively speaking!

lucca was selected at top prospect at the “dirk nowitzki basketball academy” in 2004