One of the MVC's top players announces he will return next season for 5th year.

[Da Coach]

The Missouri State beat writer is reporting that Gaige Prim, one of the top players in the MVC, is planning on returning to Missouri State next season for an extra year.

https://www.news-leader.com/story/sports/college/msu/2021/02/08/missouri-state-basketball-gaige-prim-return-bonus-season/4445181001/

This is good news for Missouri State. He will be taking advantage of the new NCAA rule that allows winter-sport athletes to receive an extra season of eligibility and for their scholarship to not count toward the long-standing maximum of 13 scholarships.
Prim is currently averaging 15.1 ppg (ranks 4th in the MVC) and 9.1 rpg (#1 in the MVC) .

[basketball nut]

So does that mean that EC could return to the Braves next year also?

[Da Coach]

So does that mean that EC could return to the Braves next year also?

Yes, he could. Every Division I player who is actively playing this season gets one additional year of eligibility. That would allow players like Elijah Childs, Cameron Krutwig, Tyreke Key, Shanquan Hemphill, and every other senior to play next year.

[MacabreMob]

Yes, he could. Every Division I player who is actively playing this season gets one additional year of eligibility. That would allow players like Elijah Childs, Cameron Krutwig, Tyreke Key, Shanquan Hemphill, and every other senior to play next year.

And could these players transfer and play their final year elsewhere without having to sit out a year?

[Bradley3342]

So does that mean that EC could return to the Braves next year also?

I can only hope he would consider

[Da Coach]

And could these players transfer and play their final year elsewhere without having to sit out a year?

It looks like that could eventually happen, but it is not approved yet.

The NCAA Division I Council approved a proposal in October to allow a one-time transfer from any sport to be able to play immediately without penalty or needing a waiver.
https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/...g%20a%20waiver.

The proposal was supposed to go to a final vote by the full Division I membership in January, but the vote on this issue was quietly tabled and delayed, with no decision when they would take up the vote again.

https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/division-i-council-tables-proposals-name-image-likeness-and-transfers

https://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/di-board-directors-affirms-di-council-decision-delay-name-image-and-likeness-transfer-decisions

It appears there is enough support for this proposal to pass, but for some reasons, the NCAA is sitting on it for now.

[LittleBrave]

I can only hope he would consider

All the more reason we need to play well and show more life down the stretch to give Eli hope that we can be a contender next year.
If we continue to sputter and end up with a .500 record, heck - not sure I'd even want to return next year.

This Braves team is undoubtedly the 3rd most talented team in the league (at worst). It's a shame that we have underachieved - something that is not too familiar for us under the Wardle regime.

[houstonbrave]

I wonder if players decisions in many cases will be impacted by the progress in vaccinations through the rest of the world. Many top notch MVC players look overseas for opportunities and the progress against the virus may be significantly slower than in the US making a decision to stay in school another year a better option than going to a very uncertain situation overseas.

[LittleBrave]

I wonder if players decisions in many cases will be impacted by the progress in vaccinations through the rest of the world. Many top notch MVC players look overseas for opportunities and the progress against the virus may be significantly slower than in the US making a decision to stay in school another year a better option than going to a very uncertain situation overseas.

Good point here Houston.
Also the job market is very tough right now for kids who graduate, especially in states (like IL) where COVID restrictions are strict. I am thankful I didn’t have that concern about basically finding a job from my home right after I graduated. No telling how many months I’ll need to work from home in my current position.

[LongTimeFan]

I heard that returnees don't count against the 13 scholarships. However, the school would have to be willing to pick the costs of an extra player.

[Da Coach]

I heard that returnees don't count against the 13 scholarships. However, the school would have to be willing to pick the costs of an extra player.

Yes, that is true. Not every school would necessarily invite all their graduating players back for another year. I expect to see record numbers of names on the transfer lists, and there will be hundreds of programs looking to recruit transfers they believe are an upgrade over their current players.

It's seems possible that state schools might be more willing to cover another year of scholarship for their players as opposed to private schools, which can't just send a memo asking for more taxpayer's money to cover those costs.
Note that some schools have 5 or 6 or more seniors (Loyola has 5 seniors and has already committed 4 of those scholarships to other incoming recruits), while other schools (like Illinois State) have zero seniors. So some teams could have 18 or more scholarship players next season, compared to others which will have no more than the usual number.