The NCAA announced changes to their policies pertaining to the NBA Draft entrants and players having agents on Wednesday. They released a post on their website explaining how things will be different moving forward.
Agents
Players will be able to have an agent if they are deemed a good enough prospect. Per the NCAA, “Pending a decision by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, high school basketball players can be represented by an agent beginning July 1 before their senior year in high school, provided they have been identified as an elite senior prospect by USA Basketball.”
While the players are in college they can have an agent after the season as long as they request an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee.
Agents can even pay for expenses, including meals and transportation, as long as it’s part of the agent selection process. The official rule by the NCAA states, “Agents can pay for meals and transportation for players and their families if the expenses are related to the agent selection process. Also, the student cannot miss class, and the money must be spent where the student lives or attends school. Additionally, high school and college student-athletes and their families can have meals, transportation and lodging paid for by an agent if those expenses are associated with meetings with the agent or a pro team.”
All agreements with agents for high school and college students must be in writing, terminated when the student enrolls or goes back to college and disclosed to the NCAA (high school students) or the school (college students).
The NCAA will be able to oversee this process because all agents must be NCAA certified.
NBA Draft
Players who go undrafted will now be able to return to school if they follow the right protocols. “College basketball players who request an Undergraduate Advisory Committee evaluation, participate in the NBA combine and aren’t drafted can return to school as long as they notify their athletics director of their intent by 5 p.m. the Monday after the draft.”
The NCAA also passed some provisions that will make it easier for those who leave school early for a chance at professional basketball to get their degree.
For more news and updates go to our college basketball page!
You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!