Jim Larranaga and Blake James react to Dewan Hernandez suspension

It has been a somber day surrounding the Miami basketball team with the news that Junior center-forward Dewan Hernandez has been suspended for the remainder of this season and his decision to enter the NBA Draft.

Miami Basketball Head Coach Jim Larranaga and Athletic Director Blake James issued statements regarding the NCAA’s decision to suspend  Dewan Hernandez for the remainder of this season and if he hadn’t decided to turn pro, 40 percent of the 2019-20 season. Hernandez likely would have left regardless of the 2019-20 decision.

James called the decision disappointing and unfair and said that the University of Miami is not in agreement with the NCAA’s decision. The decision to suspend Hernandez for basically a season and a half was based on the Junior forward-center reportedly taking less than $500 and agreeing to increased payments after that.

Hernandez was one of 19 players listed in an email by aspiring NBA players’ agent Christian Dawkins. Dawkins was convicted of fraud in October in the Adidas bribery scandal. He is facing two to four years in prison. Dawkins will be sentenced March 5.

The email revealed, according to ESPN, a business plan detailing payments to players, specifically Hernandez that escalated from $500 per month from September 2017 through January 2018 and then $1000 per month from then until April 2018.

Hernandez declared for the 2018 NBA Draft and then withdrew his name, deciding to return to the Miami basketball team for his Junior season. Hernandez is not expected to be selected in the NBA Draft. He should get a look in the NBA Summer League.

James full statement went into more detail about the University of Miami’s stance on the suspension, the evidence that went into it and their relationship with the NCAA Staff. The original tweet follows.

"“Today’s decision by the NCAA regarding Dewan Hernandez is not only disappointing, but unfair…Based on the totality of the facts, the University is not in agreement with the decisions and interpretations of this case and made it well-known to the NCAA staff that we have many reservations about the reliability of evidence and ultimate conclusions.Dewan was cooperative throughout this process and was transparent about what had occurred, admitting mistakes that he made.I am one of the NCAA’s strongest supporters and I am actively involved in its leadership but I would be remiss in my obligations to the association, all student-athletes and to the University of Miami if I did not speak up.”"

Larranaga has been a strong supporter of Hernandez throughout the entire process. It has been extremely difficult wondering what could have been for the Miami basketball team this season if he had been eligible. Hernandez and Sophomore point guard Chris Lykes would have been a dynamic inside-out duo.

The Miami Head Coach spoke about having Hernandez as part of the Hurricanes basketball program for the last three seasons on UM’s flagship station WQAM’s Hurricane Hotline on Monday night. The interview was transcribed by the Sun-Sentinel’s Christy Chirinos.

"“As excited as we were about signing [Hernandez], it was so much more enjoyable just to be around him these last three years. I just love the young man, a hard worker, a dedicated athlete, a good student who worked hard in the classroom, someone I just really enjoyed being around,”“He also had a tremendous impact not only on the court with his appearance, but off the court, he was always willing to give his time. He helped recruit a lot of the guys that are in our program right now…Not only to lose him on the court, but to lose him — he’s made the decision that he’s not going to stay in school, he’s going to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA — to me, it’s just a very, very sad day, for me and our basketball program to lose a person of his caliber.”"

The Hurricanes have to move on now with the remainder of the season. They will not have Hernandez to come in and improve the team immediately. It does give them time to process the decision and go forward.

The Hurricanes have struggled with seven scholarship players this season. Ebuka Izundu is the only post player left on the Miami basketball team with Hernandez ineligible, Rodney Miller redshirting and Deng Gak out for the season with an injury. The Hurricanes signed 6’9 205-pound power forward Anthony Walker for 2019-20.