The two seniors played in the Carolina Cancer Focus basketball tournament at Woollen Gym on April 13. The event raised money for the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center on UNC's campus.
NCAA bylaws state that basketball players can lose eligibility after becoming student-athletes if they participate in any organized competition except while representing their institution in intercollegiate competition.
Holmes and Johnson were not available for comment Tuesday, though Johnson, a possible starter, issued a statement released by the Department of Athletics.
"Every year our compliance staff and coaches tell us we can't play in outside competition," Johnson said in the statement. "We had no idea, though, that playing in an informal on-campus basketball game against other students to raise money for cancer research would be against NCAA rules."
Steve Kirschner, men's basketball spokesman, said the one-game suspension given by the NCAA is fairly typical for the situation.
Kirschner said that after learning of the violation, UNC had to declare the two athletes ineligible to play. When the NCAA reviewed the situation, the one-game suspension was levied, though the athletic department's appeal will be heard Friday or Saturday.
A decision will be made by Monday's Preseason NIT game against Penn State, the Tar Heels' first regular-season matchup, Kirschner said.
UNC's appeal argues that the tournament, held annually since 2000, did not really have a formal setting and should not be considered a non-sanctioned event, said Larry Gallo, senior associate director of athletics.
"I think we're all hopeful that they'll rule in favor of Will and Jon," Gallo said. "The informality of the tournament is one reason they thought they could play."
The players paid $10 each to participate in the tournament, but they received no money or gifts for participating.
And even though Holmes' team finished second in the tournament, he did not take home one of the Spalding basketballs awarded to the runners-up, said tournament organizer Wallace Simpson.
Simpson said he asked Johnson to play to help drum up publicity for the tournament.
"As far as I'm concerned, both these guys were just trying to help a good cause and raise money for cancer research," he said. "No one ever asked us (about possible violations) or assumed that it would be a problem."
The additional publicity might be the reason for the suspensions. Simpson said former UNC standout Joseph Forte played in the tournament in 2000 and 2001, but Gallo said he was not aware of Forte's participation.
Gallo said the compliance staff regularly sends out informational e-mails called "Ram Rules" to athletes to remind them about certain NCAA regulations.
He said the staff sent one such e-mail dealing with outside competition rules during the spring semester. Regardless, Johnson said, he didn't understand what types of competition were off-limits.
"If we made a mistake, it was an honest one and done primarily because we neglected to ask our coaches or compliance staff for prior permission," he said in the statement. "We certainly regret not having done that."
The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.
