Buried in the 13th paragraph of a NCAA news release is this possibility that a committee will be looking into:
"An academic transfer standard for all students that would tie one-time immediate eligibility for competition after transfer to a set of academic benchmarks instead of to in what sport the student-athlete competes."
So... basically anybody could transfer with immediate eligibility the next season elsewhere if their academic grades/progress check out.
As of now, NCAA rules say players in basketball, football, baseball and men's ice hockey must sit out a year but those in other sports can be eligible right away the next season if it is their first transfer.
That's potentially a monumental change, one that coaches are already concerned about.
“It would turn into one of the dirtiest recruiting periods that you've ever seen,” Indiana coach Archie Miller told Scout.
(We haven't been able to reach UA coach Sean Miller yet to see if he has any comment).
But ESPN's Jay Bilas, for one, argues that players should be able to transfer and be eligible next season.
NBC's Rob Dauster breaks down the argument for doing so and the other possible rule changes (such as making grad transfers who enroll in a two-year program count against the 13-player scholarship limit for two years even if they play only one).
CBS's Gary Parrish isn't sure it's all that bad an idea.
Meanwhile, UMass coach Matt McCall told the Daily Hampshire Gazette that he sees both pros and cons.
“I don’t know what type of situation we put ourselves in if we go down this road,” McCall said. “Are we opening a can of worms where more illegal recruiting can take place or are we rewarding kids in good academic standing and not punishing them if they go through a coaching change? I think they have to put a lot more thought into it before they make anything official.”
The issue is scheduled to be studied this year but not voted on yet until after 2017-18.
Despite initial speculation that five-star New Jersey forward Naz Reid was visiting Arizona this weekend, we've been told he is not.
(Also, a Zagsblog story last week said he didn't have a UA visit set yet).
That's probably another indication he's headed toward LSU despite Reid's indication that the decision is still uncertain.
Reid, a close friend of UA commit Jahvon Quinerly, said LSU and Arizona are his final two choices.
Lauri Markkanen is fired up about Finland's advance to bracket play in EuroBasket. Finland will face Italy on Sunday in the round of 16.
Markkanen averaged 22.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in pool play, when Finland went 4-1.
ESPN's Mike Schmitz has a nice read on Markkanen's impact in Finland, while Finnish journalist Matti Morttinen said on Twitter that "it's been an incredible week" in Helsinki.
Jason Terry is among the former UA players committed to attend the Lute Olson Fantasy Camp this weekend.
