New NCAA transfer rule

[Da Coach]

Here is a report about a little-known change in the NCAA transfer rules.

Prior to now, it was never possible for a Division I player to transfer to another Div I school, and be eligible to play immediately (without a special waiver from the NCAA).
And that makes sense, or kids could switch schools like "free agents" whenever they felt they could improve their playing time, and schools could try to entice transfers to fill their immediate needs. It would cause havoc, not to mention opening the possibility of coaches illegally enticing kids to transfer. Everyone would agree that this scenario would be harmful for college basketball.

But, now the NCAA has approved a rule that would allow some kids to do just that. The new rule, called Proposal 2005-54 went into effect April 27, 2006. Most coaches apparently do not even know about this. But the leading returning scorer in Division I last year qualifies for such a transfer, and there are apparently several schools lining up to get the kid.
Here is the story.

http://www.sportsline.com/print/collegebasketball/story/9459096

[tornado]

Is this scenario possible??

If a kid is playing his 5th year at ISU, and sees that his team is going to tank it and finish last, can he transfer in the middle of the season and play immediately at BU or, say, Duke? and therefore go from loser to winner overnite?

If that's the case, you'll see teams try to pick up a "late season addition" just like they do in baseball prior to the playoffs!

[chitownBUB]

The kid in that article (the top scorer) oddly has a rather sordid
past with leaving one school and transferring because of rape
allegations.
I can see now how this rule will really benefit Bob Huggins and
Ritchie McKay who can grab these misfits immediately with no
one year wait when transferring.

[BUBravesMan]

If that's the case, you'll see teams try to pick up a "late season addition" just like they do in baseball prior to the playoffs!

Especially if a player graduates in the winter! I'm not sure if many athletes graduate in the middle of the academic year, but I know many regular students do.

[BUBraves06]

That's a shame. Hopefully the NCAA realizes what could become of college basketball, changes this rule, or puts some kind of clause into it so players don't become "free agents".

[MacabreMob]

At first, I think of how this is gonna hurt the Mid-majors the most. And I do believe it will. Think of Creighton's success with the 5-yr plan with their redshirt system. That's just one. SIU's been good with the redshirt system. And these are just MVC teams. How about Kent when they went to the Elite 8, I am not sure, did they have any 5th year players?

But then I begin to think about someone like Evan Eschmeyer (sp?) a few years back at NW'rn. He took his team to a first round loss in the NIT. What if he had bolted to say Ohio St that year when they had Schoonie Penn and M Redd and went to the Final 4 (I think). Could that have helped them win the National Title?

So now I think it's gonna hurt just about EVERY program with a 5th year player that isn't expected to be at least a top 3-4 seed in the NCAA.

And who will benefit?

Oh, just the top (elite) programs who are there every year - year after year.

This helps to keep the 'top' seperated from the rest. No chance a Top10 program will ever have to worry again about these players upsetting their chances at winning a National Title - they can now join them and win it with them.

[tornado]

Bradley actually has two of these "FREE AGENTS" right as we speak.

Brandyn Heemskerk fits the requirements, although he has already finished his 5th year in school/4th year of eligibility.

And Danny Adams, who will be taking graduate courses while he plays on scholarship next year IS officially a free agent.
That means at any time, if he transfers somewhere else, he is immediately eligible.
Maybe Ohio State??

[mike radigan]

Personally I like the rule, and Danny Adams is a good example of why. I know there could be abuse but I think it will be rare. In the case of DA, he more than likely will not play bball after school. I like it that he is staying at BU, but what if he wanted to pursue a masters program not offered at BU, then what? Now he has that option. I have to ask, if a kid was smart enough to graduate in four years and will not play ball after school, then why shouldn't he be able to get the education he wants? Do you really foresee kids who are just "ballers" switching schools and putting themselves through the rigors of a tough masters program? I do not.

[Da Coach]

I agree with you, for the most part. But just the fact that the NCAA has opened the door for abuse of this situation, you know it will eventually happen. Apparently, the kid mentioned in the article (who is the leading returning scorer in Div I) is an example. There are big time schools who would like to bolster their roster with a proven shooter.

If a school has given a scholarship to a kid for 4 years, and in his 5th year they have developed him into a very good player, it doesn't seem right that they could lose him to another school with absolutely no penalty.
I think the NCAA should make it easier for a kid to transfer for grad school (some colleges don't even offer graduate courses), but it should require an appeal to a special panel at the NCAA if he wants to play basketball at the new school. That way, it could be approved in most cases, but not if there appears to be tampering or other unfair motives.

[MacabreMob]

I guess I need to re-read the new rule... but instead, maybe you guys can explain it to me.

Example: Player A is entering his 2nd year of playing, 3rd year of school. He can not be recruited by other schools or contacted unless ... what ... the player asks to contact other schools?

So now let's say Player A has a great 2nd and 3rd years of playing in his 3rd and 4th years of school. He graduates on time and gets his 4th year of eligibility in his upcoming 5th year of school.

Since he has "graduated", does that make him recruitable? Other schools can contact him without asking? Does the player have to initiate the "free-agency" and contact? Does he have to first ask his under-graduate school first?

I don't know and was just wondering if one of you guys out there could save me the time to read up on it.

[Da Coach]

It only applies to a kid who has graduated, and is entering grad school, but still has eligibility. He can then transfer to another school for grad studies and retain his eligibility to play without sitting out a year. The rule does not address the possibility that he could be recruited by the second school.

[MacabreMob]

Thanks DC. So this has the potential to be pretty ugly. When the NCAA leaves room in the "gray" area, there is sure to be some abuse without any major repercussions (especially for a BCS program - like Okla and the text messaging).

[BU1999]

Two D-I players have already used the new rule and have transferred,

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/college/orl-secmeetings0106jun01,0,1240917.story?coll=tf-main-sports

"two Division I-A football players already have taken advantage. Duke offensive lineman Tyler Krieg bailed for Cal, and Arizona quarterback Richard Kovalcheck now is at Vanderbilt. Both will be eligible this fall."

Most schools don't like the rule.