Exclusive: Lewis Duarte is appealing Rutgers' decision to cancel his financial aid
Lewis Duarte has formally initiated an appeals process regarding the decision by Rutgers University to cancel his athletic financial aid for the upcoming Fall 2026 semester. The decision arrived after the NCAA failed to grant Duarte eligibility due to his previous participation in Overtime Elite, leaving the guard from the Dominican Republic without a clear path forward for the season.
Documents obtained during the inquiry reveal that Duarte’s representative, Lenny Minaya, filed a detailed appeal challenging the university's actions. The correspondence alleges that Rutgers officials, including head coach Steve Pikiell and assistant coach Steve Hayn, provided repeated assurances of their commitment to securing Duarte’s eligibility. According to the appeal, Duarte acted on these promises by declining professional offers in the Dominican Republic and rejecting other collegiate opportunities.
The appeal argues that the university failed to maintain transparent communication throughout the process, leaving the athlete unaware of the institution’s changing stance until alternative career options had passed. The letter from Minaya asserts that the cancellation notice lacked a specific factual basis, violating the university's internal procedures that require a clear explanation for such decisions. The athlete is now seeking a reversal of the aid cancellation and an official review of the communication logs and recruitment timeline.
Rutgers has already shifted its roster strategy, recently adding Mervedi Miteo to close out its current transfer portal recruiting class. While the athletic department has declined to comment on the pending appeal, the case now heads to the University Financial Aid Committee on Athletics Appeals. Duarte maintains that his focus remains on holding the institution accountable for its promises while determining the next steps for his basketball career.