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Haley and Hanna Cavinder are both senior basketball players for the 17-11 Miami Hurricanes.
But the twin sisters are so much more than that has well.
The Cavinder Twins, as they’re often referred to as, are also massive social media influencers. They have 128,000 followers on a shared Instagram account and a jaw-dropping 4.3 million followers on TikTok.
So it makes sense that when the two hit the transfer portal after three seasons at Fresno State, the University of Miami was a perfect destination.
What better place to show off your incredible lifestyle than in Miami and on South Beach?
Except, now the duo, and the university, have run into a problem.
The NCAA recently announced a major rule change aimed at cracking down on the use of name, image and likeness inducements for the purposes of recruiting.
Target no. 1? You guessed.
NCAA Hits Miami With Level II Violations For Illegal Recruitment Of Cavinder Twins
Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic reports that the NCAA hit Miami with multiple Level II violations over their recruitment of the twins.
University of Miami women’s basketball coach Katie Meier violated NCAA rules by facilitating impermissible contact between two prospects and a booster, the NCAA’s Division I Committee on Infractions (COI) announced on Friday. It is the first decision resolved by the COI since rules regarding name, image and likeness (NIL) changed drastically on July 1, 2021, allowing athletes to monetize their NIL.
The decision, a negotiated resolution between the school, the coach and the NCAA enforcement staff, included one year of probation and recruiting sanctions. Notably, it did not require Miami booster John Ruiz to disassociate from the school nor did it punish Haley and Hanna Cavinder, the two prospective athletes at the center of the case who transferred to Miami from Fresno State in April 2022. – via The Athletic
The violations involved Miami megabooster John Ruiz.
NEWS: In its first NIL infractions ruling, NCAA sanctions Miami WBB for violations in the recruitment of Haley & Hanna Cavinder.
As recruits, Cavinders dined at booster John Ruiz’s home. Ruiz’s tweet that night drew NCAA attention
From @ByPatForde & me – https://t.co/84AVs5ZJzO pic.twitter.com/hzK6G1BW9A
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) February 24, 2023
Ruiz, of course, was also involved with Miami football’s recruitment of star quarterback Jaden Rashada. Rashada eventually signed with the Florida Gators but was then released from his letter of intent.
He then signed with Arizona State University.
Ruiz also plans to build a new football facility on Miami’s campus in Coral Gables.
Both Cavinder twins are allowed to continue to play per the ruling. But it’s yet another warning shot fired by the NCAA. NIL is here to stay. But it appears some sort of regulation is coming quickly.