The report called the environment surrounding college basketball "a toxic mix of perverse incentives"GETTY IMAGES
The Commission on College Basketball "sharply directed the NCAA to take control of the sport, calling for sweeping reforms to separate pro and college tracks, permit players to return to school after going undrafted by the NBA and ban cheating coaches for life," according to Ralph Russo of the AP. The independent commission, led by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, "released a detailed 60-page report" with specific recommendations for the NCAA this morning. It is "not yet clear" how the governing body would pay for some of the proposals, and some of the panel's key recommendations require cooperation from the NBA, NBPA and USA Basketball. The commission offered "harsh assessments of toothless NCAA enforcement, as well as the shady summer basketball circuit." It also called the environment surrounding college basketball "'a toxic mix of perverse incentives to cheat,' and said responsibility for the current mess goes all the way up to university presidents." The commission acknowledged the NCAA will "need help to make some changes and defended its amateurism model, saying paying players a salary isn't the answer." The group recommended the NCAA have more involvement with players "before they get to college and less involvement with enforcement." Some of the commission's other recommendations include:
- For the NBA and NBPA to "change rules requiring players to be at least 19 years old and a year removed from graduating high school to be draft eligible." However, if the NBA and NBPA "refuse to change their rules in time for the next basketball season," the commission would consider other options, such as making freshmen ineligible or locking a scholarship for three or four years if the recipient leaves a program after one year.
- Recommended basketball players be "allowed to test the professional market in high school or after any college season, while still maintaining college eligibility." If undrafted, a player would "remain eligible as long as he requests an evaluation from the NBA and returns to the same school."
- Harsher penalties "for rule-breakers," and Level I violations would be "punishable with up to a five-year postseason ban and the forfeiture of all postseason revenue for the time of the ban."
- Proposed the NCAA "create a program for certifying agents, and make them accessible to players from high school through their college careers."
- The NCAA, with support from the NBA and USA Basketball, should "run its own recruiting events for prospects during the summer," and take a more serious approach to certifying events it does not control.
- The commission looks for "greater financial transparency from shoe and apparel companies" (AP, 4/25).
NOT DONE YET: ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello writes ending the one-and-done rule is the "biggest change suggested by the commission, even though it's an NBA Rule." Sources said that the NBA and NBPA conversations on one-and-done are "centered" on the '20 Draft as the "earliest possible date for change." The NBPA, including President Chris Paul, "won't meet until after the NBA season" (ESPN.com, 4/25). In N.Y., Marc Tracy notes the one-and-done has been a "big part of college basketball in recent years," and the commission did not "suggest an alternative." In a joint statement, the NBA and NBPA "pledged only to continue assessing the rules, conspicuously failing to endorse immediately an end to one-and-done" (NYTIMES.com, 4/25).
KEY ISSUES: The AP's Russo noted the commission "passed on dealing with the key issues of college athletes receiving payments for use of their names, images and likenesses." The issue is still "tied up in the courts." Rice said that the commission "doesn't believe that the NCAA can legislate in this area until the legal parameters are more clear." Rice also said that it is "hard to understand what's allowed." Rice: "For the life of me I don't understand the difference between Olympic payments and participation in 'Dancing with the Stars' -- and what can't be allowed without opening the door to professionalizing college basketball." (AP, 4/25). Basketball HOFer David Robinson, on the commission not addressing the money in college basketball, said, "Hands were tied a bit because of the fact that there is litigation going on right now, and now probably isn't the right time to make hard and fast rules. However, it is an area that, I think, everyone on the committee feels very strongly that needs to be addressed." Robinson: "The universities are every bit as interested in having these kids monetize their talents. ... It's the dialogue that the NCAA is working against the kids is -- I think that's wrong. ... We are taking steps to show these kids we are here to improve your future." ESPN's Mike Greenberg: "It makes no sense that they cannot profit from their likeness. ... They have earned it and for the overwhelming majority of them it is the only time to cash in on that." ESPN's Jalen Rose: "It's a step in the right direction. ... However, the elephant in the room is what are we going to do about the money, and that didn't get addressed at all" ("Get Up!," ESPN, 4/25).
MISSING THE MARK? USA TODAY's Lindsay Schnell writes the commission's recommendations were "mostly underwhelming." There is "a lot of good material and good suggestions," such as the recommendation that undrafted athletes be allowed to return to school and that certified agents "be allowed to work with prospects and their families starting in high school." Those are "no-brainers." The commission then gets into the areas where the NCAA "has no power, like suggesting to abolish the one-and-done rule." That is an NBA rule, and the NBA is the "only group that can change it." One-and-done is also "not why the NCAA and its member institutions are mixed up in an FBI investigation alleging corruption." The NCAA "created this climate" and until it addresses amateurism, there will "continue to be a black market" (USATODAY.com, 4/25). In Louisville, Tim Sullivan writes Rice "sounded like she wanted to talk tough without baring her teeth, offering mostly incremental changes to a system fraught with fraud and cynicism." Though her commission's suggestions were "reasonable and sensible, they were not nearly as bold as advertised." Rice "gave it the old college try, but her commission stopped short of proposals that would have created a new paradigm" (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 4/25). SB NATION's Alex Kirshner writes the commission does not suggest "letting players make money," which is the "only thing that could come close to cleaning up the messes the NCAA says it's worried about stopping" (SBNATION.com, 4/25).
WHAT ELSE IS NEW? Washington Post's John Feinstein tweeted, "For the record: seven months, a 60-page report and not a single new idea. Plus, they say paying players would be bad because they don't want college hoops to be another professional league. What the hell is it at the top levels NOW?" ESPN's Jonathan Givony: "Feels like they completely deflected accountability for the many issues facing college basketball, and directed it mostly towards the NBA (for its one and done rule) and sneaker companies. Not surprising, but highly unproductive." The Athletic's Sam Vecenie: "What a waste of time the committee to save college basketball was. no new ideas, totally deflected the blame, tried to get the NCAA a bigger piece of the money pie with grassroots hoops, didn’t include kids earning money, and suggested changes the NCAA isn’t responsible for." ESPN's Dick Vitale: "Will the @NCAA respond in a positive manner to this report by super ppl that care?" ESPN's Fran Fraschilla: "The Rice Commission said that it’s OK for major college hoops programs to spend up to 150K per year per player, including stipends. Oh, wait. They’re doing that now."
