Many felt that the college basketball system was heading towards being a lawless land. While that started at the dawn of NIL, it magnified recently after Baylor signed James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA draft pick, midseason. “If that’s what we’re gonna do, shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too. But shame on the NCAA. Because coaches are going to do what they’ve got to do, I guess,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after that controversial signing. The NCAA has finally listened to the fans and coaches, and we are starting to head in the direction they want for men’s and women’s basketball.

“At the recommendation of the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Oversight Committees, the transfer windows in men’s and women’s basketball will open for a 15-day period the day after the championship game for the respective NCAA tournament. The changes are effective immediately,” wrote its latest release about the change in the rules. 

Earlier, the transfer portal began after the second weekend of March Madness and was open for 30 days. It essentially penalized the teams that went deep into the tournament. They lost valuable time getting started on the recruiting. Now, the women’s basketball notification-of-transfer window will be open from April 6 to 20. The men’s basketball window will be open from April 7 to 21.

Note that a player won’t have a deadline to commit to a program after entering the portal. The players can also announce their destinations on social media and informally communicate with the team before this period. The official process will need to take place within the newly announced deadlines. It will be quicker and more efficient than before. That means no more long-drawn-out rumors and decision changes from players. However, this rule does have an exception when there is a coaching change. 

“When a head coaching change occurs, a 15-day period will open five days after the new head coach is hired or publicly announced. If a new head coach is not announced within 30 days of the previous head coach’s departure — and the 31st day after the head coach’s departure is after the championship game — a 15-day window will open. The additional head coach departure window is available only after the basketball transfer window opens through Jan. 2,” the release further mentioned.

Earlier, any school that fired its coach would have automatically triggered a separate 30-day transfer window regardless of whether the new coach was announced or not. The 5-day buffer will give the new coach time to settle down, and the two sides will be able to exchange ideas while planning for the portal. 

“In basketball, midyear transfers are not eligible to compete at a second school if they enrolled at an NCAA school during the first academic term, regardless of whether they competed there,” the changes concluded.

So, they wouldn’t apply for international recruits like Nnaji, who haven’t played at an NCAA school. But if a player was at an NCAA school for a term and transferred, he would need to wait for the next season to play for his new team. This is an attempt to bring some competitive balance and reduce the pro-style trading midseason. The NCAA can’t impose this on non-NCAA recruits because it’s in a legal gray area. If they try to, they would likely be sued. While these are welcome changes for most, the NCAA still needs to take some steps to clarify the current rulebook.

Lack of Clarity in NCAA Eligibility Rules Fuels Coaching Frustration

There is a reason why coaches were furious when teams signed former G-League players and then a former draftee. That was not because they hated those players or the teams they signed with. But it was because they did not understand where the line is. “Why did they let that kid play? Tell us all, here’s the reason. Then we’ll all go get pros. We’ll go find them,” Calipari had said. The thing is, the rule allowing James Nnaji, London Johnson, or Nastja Claessens (Belgian WNBA draftee returning to K-State) has been around since 2013. 

“Before initial full-time collegiate enrollment, an individual may compete on a professional team (per Bylaw 12.02.4), provided the individual does not receive more than actual and necessary expenses to participate on the team,” the NCAA Bylaw 12.2.2.2.1 reads. It means that since the players did not earn more than required from their professional teams and did not attend college, they are eligible to play in the NCAA basketball. 

This technicality has been around since 2013, but hasn’t been used much. Now, with the advent of NIL, international players are being attracted to college basketball. They look at it as an earning opportunity over European leagues. So, the NCAA must make a conscious effort to clearly explain the do’s and don’ts. 

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However, another part of the equation is clarity. What does “actual and necessary expenses to participate” mean? It includes things like lodging and meals, but also other expenses necessary to participate. That is inherently flexible. Many such rules are open to interpretation, which is also a problem for coaches and recruiters. So, while the new rules are a welcome sight, the NCAA still has plenty of work to do.