How the NCAA's new transfer rules are changing recruiting and creating chaos in college basketball

[Carnac]

There is havoc in men’s college basketball, a diaspora of players leaving programs that shows no sign of ending soon.

Roughly one out of every three players who donned a uniform this past season has entered the NCAA’s transfer portal. That’s over 1,600 players, enough to field about 120 teams, and some believe that number could still swell to double the total from a year ago when the portal had over 1,000 entrants for the first time.

The reasons are clear: the NCAA’s decision in October to grant an extra year of eligibility to all current student-athletes, coupled with a more recent ruling that allows players to transfer one time without penalty. While the rule changes were meant to benefit student-athletes, they have created chaos.

How the NCAA’s new transfer rules are changing recruiting and creating chaos in college basketball

NCAA transfer rules changes have had a major impact on all involved in men’s hoops:...

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[willtalk]

The NCAA has over compensated for their obsurdly restrictive rules of the past. Now they just opened up the flood gates and I suspect it will end up destroying college basketball as whe have known it. Stability and continuity is what fuels fan following. If the team is constanlly in flux it will eventually eliminated team loyalty and with it the very thing that fuels colllege sports. I frankly have already begun to devest my interest in WCBB.

 

[AZgirl]

My problem with transferring has more to do with the academic repercussions. There are huge repercussions to transferring that rarely get talked about that the year in residence was meant to address.

As for destroying college basketball, I don't know about that. I look at it from another perspective, that of a program that rose to prominence precisely because of transfers. That created more WBB followers, not fewer. It may not make those who followed a handful of traditional powers as happy, but it may actually increase the interest around the country as quality players who aren't happy move on and help build other programs.

 

[cancontent]

My problem with transferring has more to do with the academic repercussions. There are huge repercussions to transferring that rarely get talked about that the year in residence was meant to address.

As for destroying college basketball, I don't know about that. I look at it from another perspective, that of a program that rose to prominence precisely because of transfers. That created more WBB followers, not fewer. It may not make those who followed a handful of traditional powers as happy, but it may actually increase the interest around the country as quality players who aren't happy move on and help build other programs.

I see your points, however don't you see it having an effect on recruiting for those in high school too? Good or bad is the next question as I see it both ways.

As a good thing, those who are fixated on P5 and possibly over reaching may look at more realistic options that are better fits. As a bad thing, some really talented kids could get overlooked even more than before.

From a Canadian perspective, I know the new transfer rules weigh heavy on the minds of 2022 and 2023 kids who haven't had a chance to be seen due to COVID. It could also have a trickle down effect for later years depending on how the transfer trend continues in 2021 and beyond. These kids are the WBB followers you're referring to. More and more of them now have aspirations to play in the NCAA like their idols.

 

[AZgirl]

I see your points, however don't you see it having an effect on recruiting for those in high school too? Good or bad is the next question as I see it both ways.

I know it's having some effect on 2022s, at least. I have spoken with people who run some of the big EYBL programs in the Western US and I know those concerns. But those are more related to the COVID-19 blanket extra year. When seniors transfer, they take up a freshman's roster spot whereas they would not have taken up a roster spot if they played their extra year at their old school. What I was told was that a lot of 22s may have to go juco for a year or so until the COVID-19 seniors are gone.

 

[cancontent]

I know it's having some effect on 2022s, at least. I have spoken with people who run some of the big EYBL programs in the Western US and I know those concerns. But those are more related to the COVID-19 blanket extra year. When seniors transfer, they take up a freshman's roster spot whereas they would not have taken up a roster spot if they played their extra year at their old school. What I was told was that a lot of 22s may have to go juco for a year or so until the COVID-19 seniors are gone.

The COVID year is definitely a large factor, however I think the ability to play right away when transferring will have an effect too. Time will tell once the COVID-19 seniors have moved on. The transfer numbers this year could be an anomaly.

 

[oldhusky]

Obviously the extra year creates a great deal of havoc, but at least it's impact is short term. Being able to transfer and play without sitting out a year has brought "rent a player" to the NCAA. By lessening the downside to transferring, players with minimal gripes may look to move on. Coaches will turn recruiting into more of an arms race, just bring in as much talent as possible, use up close to all your roster spots because you know many of them will leave. Who cares if they leave because you can't find playing time for them, and if someone in the rotation leaves, use rent a player in the portal to fill that need at the position you need for the number of years you need.

On balance it might be good for the players, but I think as a fan I prefer more loyalty of team to player and visa versa. I sometimes miss that scenario in professional sports as well. Remember when quite a few star players played their entire career for one team? With salary caps and free agency that doesn't happen much anymore. Those changes were very lucrative for the players, but from a fan's perspective I think something was lost as well.