Maurice Creek cleared to play by NCAA

It only took two words for freshman Maurice Creek’s first day of classes to become much more meaningful.

After waiting nearly a month, he finally heard the words he had been waiting for almost all summer: “You’re cleared.”

Those words came from IU men’s basketball coach Tom Crean during a phone call after one of his classes, and they meant Creek will be able to play for IU in the 2009-10 basketball season. He was waiting on the results of his SAT to receive permission from the NCAA Clearinghouse to play this year.

“It was a great feeling. I’ve just been waiting for a long time and today – finally, it came,” said Creek, the No. 56 player in the class of 2009. “I was like, ‘Wow. Yes. I’m done.’”

Crean said he was proud of Creek for putting his work in and getting cleared by the NCAA.

“It’s one of those things where we were never in doubt that it would happen, or overly nervous,” Crean said in a statement. “But there is certainly a sense of relief when he actually was cleared and there was a sense of accomplishment when he was cleared.  And to me that speaks volumes.”

Creek said he contacted his family as soon as he got the news.

“I think it was my dad this time,” Creek said of who he contacted first. “My mom didn’t pick up the phone, but she usually gets that information first and foremost. Always family first and foremost.”

The waiting process didn’t produce any doubts in Creek’s mind. He said he worked hard to and knew  what the result of his efforts would be.

“I worked all summer – hard,” Creek said. “It was just a process of waiting. You have to be patient at these points in time.”

One disadvantage of Creek having to wait out for his SAT scores was that he couldn’t practice or take classes with the team over the summer. However, he said he will not try to push himself beyond his limits.

“You have to take your time with all that stuff,” he said. “You can’t rush through it.”

As for personal relationships, Creek said he had been in contact with junior Jeremiah Rivers and freshmen Christian Watford (the No. 41 recruit in 2009) and Jordan Hulls (No. 107 and Creek’s roommate).

Creek said the most important part of that communication was “trying to get a relationship early because that’s how the chemistry starts.”

Creek did not take the time over the summer just to work on academics. He also worked out with his mother, father and two brothers every day.

“We did my work that had to be done,” Creek said. “It was kind of a tough summer because you want to be here early with all the guys, but you can’t do anything about it. You just got to take your time, do what you got to do and get out.”
Creek said he learned the importance of working hard and managing time through his summer experiences.

“If you don’t plan your schedule, you can be all messed up and everything,” Creek said.

The things he learned, he said, will translate directly into the collegiate scene.

“You got to be a great student-athlete to do what you have to do on the court. Time management will help me a lot in college, and I’m looking forward to it.”