Arizona refuses to allow freshman center to transfer

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3684369

I have two questions about this:

1. Don't players who leave school after the fall semester only have to sit out the spring semester and next year's fall semester at their new school?

2. If you're the player, how the heck do you not lawyer up and sue the crap out of Arizona? If you believe the NCAA, intercollegiate sports are just voluntary extracurricular activities. From what this story reads, Arizona is forcing the player to play this year for them.

 

If he leaves after first semester, he has to sit out second semester and the first semester of next year at his new school. NCAA rules say either two fuyll semesters or three full quarters, not including summer school, at your new school before you're eligible.

He could appeal to the NCAA for a waiver for immediate eligibility, or to be released from his scholarshoip, or to get this year of eligibility back. They might be inclined to grant one, since it reads as if he hasn't actually played in a game. But quite often the NCAA doesn't put the best interests of the student/athlete anywhere near the top of the list or priorities.

If Arizona doesn't release him, he's ineligible for ATHLETIC scholarship aid for the same period of time.

Sounds like Arizona is being a dick about this. No surprise there.

 

Too bad...how many of us took jobs because of someone who was there, only for them to leave.
You signed the letter of intent, be a man and live up to it.

 

Why can't a player decide to change his mind and transfer, just like any other student? He shouldn't have to be forced to play for one year for Arizona just to fulfill the LOI requirements. And what guarantee is Arizona giving that if he were to play the year, that they wouldn't give him permission anyways?

Like I said, the guy should lawyer up, if he can afford it. The NCAA always shits bricks when someone challenges their monopoly , just like that player who transferred from Kentucky to Louisville a few years back. Kentucky tried to not let him go, the player lawyered up, and, presto! he ended up with Pitino.

 

This isn't the first time Mr. Whithy has tried this.

Jeff Withey Decommits From Louisville
http://www.cardchronicle.com/story/2007/6/6/72351/46357

 

There is absolutely nothing stopping him from leaving the University of Arizona. He can drop out of the school at any time, then pick up classes at the start of the second semester wherever he is academically eligible.
Don't make this sound like they are not allowing him to transfer; they are not allowing him to transfer his basketball eligibility.

 

Exactly. Quit school, sit out your year and go somewhere else.

 

Maybe he should have realized this was a possibility before signing a scholarship offer with the school.
But blaming the kid in this situation would just be wrong.

 

There are many reasons why an athlete chooses the school,and regardless of the NCAA's BS claim that coaches are not a reason, coaches are one of the primary reasons. Otherwise, why would schools allow coaches to recruit?

The rule that schools are allowed to somewhat dictate where a player can transfer to smells of facism. That's why I'm rooting for this kid to lawyer up, although I doubt it will actually happen.

 

This isn't a job. This is the University using him to sell their best product: The men's basketball team.

If the coach leaves, the kids should be allowed to transfer wherever they wish. In some cases if a coach leaves, players have even been allowed to transfer without penalty. Ryan Mallet tried to get that treatment and failed when he left UM for Arkansas, but in certain cases it is allowed.