All 2022 players ruled eligible
- Thread starter 23UNC
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Transfer portal open for 1 week starting Aug 3rd for all 2022 players who have already used 4 years of eligibility:
www.cbssports.com
Colorado judge immediately grants extra year of eligibility to NCAA athletes who just graduated
A federal judge's injunction could grant a fifth year of eligibility to a massive amount of athletes, opening a chaotic transfer portal window in August
www.cbssports.com
This should make 1st team All-ACC F Nyla Harris eligible, but not sure how long her surgery recovery is expected to take.
This is going to cause a big mess. A lot of log jams on the rosters. The question is: what do you tell the freshman that are already on these college campuses if you have to take their scholarship away to make room for a 2022 athlete. This is going to be a double edge sword IMO.
I agree. This will take some careful maneuvering. I will trust Coach CB on this since she has demonstrated excellent skills in handling the TP. Maybe keep 15 players on the active roster and allow two redshirts on scholarship but not active?
I'm pretty sure 15 is a hard cap on both roster size and scholarships available.
Anything could happen, but I seriously doubt kids already on campus will get the boot. Contracts have been signed.
Long post I put in another thread (women's lacrosse) on exceptions to roster caps:
there are four mechanisms where a team that appears to be over their roster limit may in fact be fine.
1. A long-term injury where you know before the season starts that an athlete will be out for the year.
- Current-Year Count: If an athlete is on the certified pre-season roster, they occupy a roster spot for that entire season, regardless of whether a medical hardship or injury prevents them from practicing or competing.
- Next-Year Exemption: A student-athlete who sits out an entire season due to injury or illness may be officially exempted from counting against the sport's roster limit beginning with the roster year following the injury.
- Financial Aid Exception: Schools are permitted to renew or honor an existing athletic financial aid agreement for a medically sidelined player without counting them toward the roster limit, provided the athlete does not participate in any countable, required, or voluntary athletically related activities after the roster deadline.
- Strict Roster Locking: Once a school certifies its roster in the Compliance Assistant internet (CAi) system before the season begins, only the athletes explicitly listed on that roster are allowed to practice or compete.
note that there are now no more medical redshirts to bank a year for future use. So if you designate a player to be out for the year you better be sure there is little chance of recovery during the season or you are causing her to lose opportunity.
2. Grandfathered walk-ons (DSA’s aka Designated Student Atletes) from before the House v NCAA ruling who retain their walk-on status.
- Any student-athlete designated as "grandfathered" does not count against the team’s new roster limits. For example, if a football program has a roster cap of 105 players but retains 10 grandfathered walk-ons, they are permitted to carry 115 players on their active roster.
- Eligibility Criteria: To qualify for this protected status, the athlete must fall into one of these buckets:
- Current Roster Members: They were on the school's active roster before the settlement took effect.
- Re-hired / Cut Walk-ons: If a school prematurely cut a walk-on in anticipation of the new roster caps, the school was required to offer that roster spot backunder the grandfather clause.
- The 2025-26 Freshmen Class: Incoming freshmen who had a previously promised walk-on spot revoked or honored prior to settlement implementation are also eligible for grandfathered protection.
- Portability (The Transfer Rule): Grandfathered status is fully portable. If a legacy walk-on decides to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, they carry their "exempt" status with them to their new school. Their new program can add them without the player counting against that school's roster cap.
- Duration of Status: The exemption remains valid for the entire duration of the athlete's college eligibility. It only expires once the student-athlete exhausts their biological eligibility clock or graduates
it is possible Sydney Barker was a DSA, but I do believe she was granted a scholarship at some point so it is highly likely our basketball team has no DSA’s.
The transfer rule is interesting: we may pick up players at any time who do not count. But walk-one in women’s basketball are pretty rare, so probably a non-issue in this sport.
3. (Does not apply to women’s basketball) Grandfathered partial scholarship recipients from before the House v NCAA settlement: the NCAA used to divide sports between those that only allowed full scholarships (Examples: Football, Men's & Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Women's Tennis, Women's Gymnastics) and Partial Scholarship Sports (pretty much everything else- Examples: Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Soccer, Lacrosse) These sports have always used the "equivalency" model, where a coach would split a small pool of scholarships (like baseball's old 11.7 limit) across a much larger roster. The impact post House v. NCAA:
- The key point here is that DSAs were not just limited to walk-in’s; it also could include anyone on partial scholarship.
- If a grandfathered player ( DSA) was already on a 25% athletic scholarship (as an example), that specific partial scholarship financial agreement is protected. The school can maintain that exact partial aid without the player counting toward the sport's new maximum roster limit.
- Once a DSA, the transfer portal does not limit the compensation you could receive in the portal. So, if for example, your pervious school gave you 25% scholarship, you could transfer to a new school on full scholarship, and still retain your DSA status, not counting against the roster at your new school.
It is worth noting that all sports are now allowed partials: there are no more head count sports. But starting with the 2026-27 incoming class all newly enrolled HS athletes and transfers who are not DSAs will count against your roster limit regardless of walk-on, partial or full scholarship status.
UNC is working toward fully funding a scholarship for every athlete at UNC, we added 200 new scholarships after the house v NcAA ruling eliminated scholarship caps. But we still have a long way to go: over 200 scholarships still not funded. So it is logical that a sport like lacrosse may not year have every roster soit covered. So it is also logical that Levy may choose to handle this by still having some partials to spread the wealth.
4. Greyshirts: UNC has not used deferred enrollment for athletes too often but it has happened in the past. If a team has a mistake with roster counts we may find in rare occasions where an athlete is asked to enroll a semester or an entire year later. Assuming they have not yet turned 19 this will not affect their 5 year eligibility.
In about 4 years the last of those grandfathered players will graduate. At that point options 2 & 3 will disappear and coaches can only use Options 1 & 4.
TL;dr: there are scenarios where UNc WBB could conceivably go over 15 women, but pretty unlikely given what we know publicly right now.
Talia is tracking the 5th year graduated players who declare for the portal here:
www.on3.com
No headliner names as of yet, but we are only entering day 2
correction: it is not portal players specifically, so I guess many may return to their own team.
Tracking women’s college basketball players who could return for 5th year with injunction against NCAA
On3 has compiled a list of players who have expressed interest in returning to college basketball for a fifth year with Friday night’s injunction.
No headliner names as of yet, but we are only entering day 2
correction: it is not portal players specifically, so I guess many may return to their own team.
I believe her Instagram post has since been deleted/expired but she posted about some sort of surgical procedure on her heel and was (maybe still is?) rehabbing at UNC
As I stated before, Yes, I would love to have NH back; however, if she was to come back either her or Akot will have to come off of the bench. I do not think either player would want to do that. I listened to Isaac Shade yesterday, and he mentioned that Seth Trimble could come back as a 5th year player because he entered his name into the portal when it was opened then the rule does apply to him and other 5th year players who did as he did. Isaac also stated that if a player who just recently graduated did not put his or her name in the transfer portal when it was open then he or she would not be eligible to play a 5th year. He said that the judge in Colorado put more clarity on her ruling on this past Sunday to make more sense on what she ruled on this past Friday. Isaac also stated that if Seth was to return to UNC, he said that is a strong possibility that Seth might have to come off of the bench since Malone and staff have upgraded the back court for this coming season. The reason why I am stating these facts is that the same can be true with CB and her staff. They have already upgraded their four spot with Akot and Bofia. I do not think Akot came here to be coming off of the bench nor do I see NH coming back to be coming off of the bench. One of them will not be happy with that; therefore, I do not see NH coming back. The same thing can be said with Toomey and BT. If CB and staff were to bring another 5 in, that could put BT further down on the bench if the 5 is a top caliber 5. I do not think Toomey would be happy coming off of the bench when she started last year. This will cause another problem. IMO, it is going to come down to what CB and staff thinks which scenario would be more beneficial for this year's team.
Nyla H played a lot of 5 last year with Elina, Lanie, Nyla B and Indya. Ciera is a 5. CB says Akot can play the 5. Blanca is a 5 and CB says
Noelle is a true 5 also.
Unless needing to play very big, Nyla H and Achol Akot in rotation with Ciera would work very well together IMO.
I think it will all work out great with Nyla Harris if we have enough $$ to get her. The best rotation plays the most.
Noelle is a true 5 also.
Unless needing to play very big, Nyla H and Achol Akot in rotation with Ciera would work very well together IMO.
I think it will all work out great with Nyla Harris if we have enough $$ to get her. The best rotation plays the most.
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Tarboy, I love your enthusiasm, but as I stated above, one of them will have to come off the bench. I do not think Akot came here to come off the bench. NH started last year and I do not think she would be willing to come off the bench. If she does decide to come back and CB decides to start both NH and Akot, then that will definitely have Toomey coming of off the bench now, I do not think that is going to sit well with her too. Best case scenario, NH needs to move on with her life and concentrate on a professional career. Coming back will hinder other people on this year's team from learning, growing, and it will cut down on someone's playing time. Also, this could cause Toomey to transfer out at the end of this season if she were to go to the bench because NH came back.
Also, Tarboy, Akot will need to play the 4 and not the 5. The same with Noelle. Let me tell you why. If these two have inspirations of playing in the W, then they will have to play either at the 3 or 4, otherwise, they will not have a chance to make the W at the 5 because they are just to short.
Yeah, tarboy, I would not want to see her play at Duke or VA. Duke would not be possible IMO because they are loaded and there is no room for her play there. She will definitely be coming off of the bench there. I listened to Deja Kelly interview with RL Byrum a few weeks ago and she stated the reason why she is not in the W right now is not because she cannot score the basketball. She was told by many GM's that they want to see her decision making at the PG spot and her being able to assist more. Which is what she is currently working on. This is something that DK did not do work on or had to do at UNC. She was more of a scoring guard and not a distributor. This is the reason why I said that Boefelle, Akot, and NH will need to be able to put the ball on the floor, they must be able to shoot the midrange, and the 3 if they want to play in the W because at their height, most of those players at their height who are in the W play on the perimeter or wing. Putting them at the 5 will hurt their chances of making it to the W IMO.
Akot from film looks like she can drive to the rim pretty good. Bofia is going start out as a 5 based on what CB led me to believe. Not sure
if Harris has a lot of dribble in her game but a rotation of her,Akot and Toomey sounds strong to me. Nyla was All ACC 2nd team iirc.
We know very little about Noelle B except she is 6'4, can palm the ball and can dunk. I am hoping she will be great. Time will tell.
if Harris has a lot of dribble in her game but a rotation of her,Akot and Toomey sounds strong to me. Nyla was All ACC 2nd team iirc.
We know very little about Noelle B except she is 6'4, can palm the ball and can dunk. I am hoping she will be great. Time will tell.
We shall see. If NH does not mine coming off of the bench or Akot does not mind coming off of the bench then I would love to go for it. I think we need another 5 player; however, If we should find a top caliber 5 person then that will cause problems with Toomey and BT as far as starting or getting to start or cutting down on their playing time. This rule is good for some schools and bad for others; especially those teams that are loaded now with top level talent, because someone is going to have to go to the bench.
The problem that CB and staff are going to have will be if they told Akot that she will start if she came and then NH decides to come back. What do you tell NH. Yes you can come back but you will now have to come off of the bench? That might not sit well with NH. That is what I am saying.
Chemistry and defined roles would have to play a part in this. As of right now, it seems like that is NH's only choice if she wanted another year of ball (maybe she doesn't). If I recall last year, especially earlier in the season, she didn't play but half the game if that. On quick check she only played in about 58% of games 20 min or more and 8 of those came in the last 9 games. Maybe is would be okay sharing time and not starting.
Jriv, I think Akot is definitely a 4. HARRIS imo IS a 4 who can also play 5. Toomey IMO is a 5 who can play 4 but lacks the foot speed to guard
a lot of other 4's she she might have to guard. JMO.
We have enough options with Burrows at 4, Blanca at 5 and Noelle at 5 to match up well with most all teams we play size wise.
From CB's mouth Akot seems to win most scrimmages so I am thinking she might at this point be our difference maker. Of course
Harpring might not be 100% and Brooks we have heard very little about this preseason.
a lot of other 4's she she might have to guard. JMO.
We have enough options with Burrows at 4, Blanca at 5 and Noelle at 5 to match up well with most all teams we play size wise.
From CB's mouth Akot seems to win most scrimmages so I am thinking she might at this point be our difference maker. Of course
Harpring might not be 100% and Brooks we have heard very little about this preseason.
Hi Tarboy, you left out TQ and Gabby Williams. CB stated that Kate and Gabby are the two fastest players to bring up the ball in their hands. She also stated that both of them are big, strong, and are hard to keep out of the paint. They are both rebounding guards as well.
TQ played the 4/5 position last year. I doubt TQ moves to the wing this season. We are loaded at guard and wings it seems to me. JMO.
I have not seen any evidence Gabby is going to get past Kate#1 or Reniya #1A. Maybe I change my opinion
after some games.
We both could have different thoughts after some games are played and we see everyone in action.
I have not seen any evidence Gabby is going to get past Kate#1 or Reniya #1A. Maybe I change my opinion
after some games.
We both could have different thoughts after some games are played and we see everyone in action.
No, she want get pass Kate or RK. If you listen to CB's summer podcast she stated that Gabby like IN last year is the most athletic player on the team. She can rebound, get to her spots, can go to the rim strong, can absorb contact, can play defense, and can shoot it. She is going to get a lot of playing time. She will be one of the first ones off of the bench, along with TQ, and BT IMO.
I hope she is that good. Time will tell.
JMO but TQ might break into the top 8 rotation but I am less sure about Gabby and Blanca but if they do we will be that much better.
Top 8 I have Kate, Clardy, Nyla B, Akot, Toomey, Burrows, Reniya and Nyla Harris if we get her back. If not TQ. Of course this is just my opinion and we all will know better after we see these new Women on the court. I am very interested in seeing what Bofia brings to this team and Gabby and a hopefully we conditioned Blanca Thomas.
JMO but TQ might break into the top 8 rotation but I am less sure about Gabby and Blanca but if they do we will be that much better.
Top 8 I have Kate, Clardy, Nyla B, Akot, Toomey, Burrows, Reniya and Nyla Harris if we get her back. If not TQ. Of course this is just my opinion and we all will know better after we see these new Women on the court. I am very interested in seeing what Bofia brings to this team and Gabby and a hopefully we conditioned Blanca Thomas.
Hi tarboy, can you go and listen to what CB stated on the podcast about Gabby W. If you listen to it, you will see why I said what I said. Also, remember Gabby's mother is the associate head coach for our team; therefore, you know she had been around the UNC program ever since she was little. She is a coach's daughter so you know her IQ of the game is very high. Also, tarboy, go back and watch the some film when she played at VA. As I stated then and I am going to state now, she was the only freshmen on their team last year. VA had a ton of upper classmen and grad transfers on their team yet Gabby found a way to get playing time each game which should tell you something about her. Her skill level had to been at a high level for her to come in and play at VA as a freshman. Mark by words, just like predicted last year about Henderson and TQ she will get a lot of playing time. There were folks last year who though Henderson would not play very much, and I told them that she would because her skill level was that good. I am going to say the same thing about Gabby.
I heard CB's podcast. I hope you are correct about Gabby. It would be great if she is another Nivar who can shoot even better. I am pulling for her.
At this point in time I have her as 3rd option behind Kate and Reniya at PG and maybe 3rd/4th option behind Clardy, Kelly/maybe even Burrows at 2G.
If Gabby explodes onto the scene it will be great. I think her high school ranking was something like 97 coming into college at UVA.
I am looking forward to hearing about her Nigerian team stats.
At this point in time I have her as 3rd option behind Kate and Reniya at PG and maybe 3rd/4th option behind Clardy, Kelly/maybe even Burrows at 2G.
If Gabby explodes onto the scene it will be great. I think her high school ranking was something like 97 coming into college at UVA.
I am looking forward to hearing about her Nigerian team stats.
She was ranked number 94 in ESPN rankings coming out of high school, tarboy. I just looked it up. Also, CB and staff are seeing her in practice, etc, everyday; therefore, we have to believe what CB stated in her podcast about Gabby. She should know unless a person does not trust what the head coach is saying. My facts are based on what CB is stating in her summer media post cast and what I saw when she played at VA last year. Trust me, Gabby is legit. She is on another level than Barker, BT, and Jordan Z when they were sophomores. She might be a little better than L. Hull, but as you stated, we shall see. I know for a fact that she can rebound, she can finish strong and through contact, and she can take her defender off of the dribble. Go Heels!
Sadly the UVA game last season was not on YouTube or Dish(I have Both) so I watched on my computer and could not record it. I love to go back and study game film. I just have not seen that much game footage of Gabby. I did say something like 97th. 94 is close in my mind. Nivar was a McDonalds AA. Gabby could be Nivar like but out of HS the skill level was not as highly regarded. I hope she is great I just am not getting my hopes to high.
Now on Noelle Bofia palming the ball and dunking it and she was ranked around 52 6'4 call me very intrigued. Of course I have to wait and see more on her too.
Now on Noelle Bofia palming the ball and dunking it and she was ranked around 52 6'4 call me very intrigued. Of course I have to wait and see more on her too.
So, some updates upon the court ruling as it applies to UNC WBB and Nyla Brooks specifically:
but as of right now I assume Harris and UNc will remain in a holding pattern until more legal clarity is achieved. As of right now I do not think she is eligible for UNc and I do not believe UNc has yet rostered a graduated senior player in any sport, probably indicating that our compliance officers are in a wait-and-see mode as well.
it is possible that Harris could at some point only have an opportunity at UNC due to lot being in the transfer portal which would make her market price artificially low with no recruiting competition. But it seems logical to me that if some court cleaned up the other barrier above, they would correct the transfer portal issue as well.
www.sportico.com
- as of right now the only specific NCAA rule that was countermanded was excluding the 2022 HS class from the 5 in 5 rules. As everyone knows, that means graduated seniors are now suddenly eligible if they never redshirted.
- but all the other NCaA rules are still in effect. That means a player who wanted the option to switch schools had to magically know this might happen and had to enter the portal back during the last transfer portal window even if they thought their eligibility would expire.
- The grad transfer portal loophole was apparently closed recently. Grad transfers now have to enter during a portal window just like undergrads. That will limit Nyla Harris to UNC unless she entered the portal after last season.
- NCAA rules that prohibit signing with a pro contract agent (not an NIL agent, that is different) and rules eliminating eligibility for players drafted also still apply. Even though players like a Harris had no way of knowing they were harming future eligibility before the ruling. So in all likelihood Harris is ineligible unless she gets a court or NCAA appeal to gain eligibility. (Which as we know has happened a lot)
- This court ruling is only a temporary injunction, no actual court ruling has occurred. NCAA bylaws contain provisions that schools who allow an athlete to play under a temporary injunction, but later on lose the court case and did not gain eligibility, are subject to NCAA sanctions for playing ineligible played. So their is a good chance that the vast majority of compliance officers will not allow schools to accept graduated seniors under this temporary injunction for fear of future consequences.
but as of right now I assume Harris and UNc will remain in a holding pattern until more legal clarity is achieved. As of right now I do not think she is eligible for UNc and I do not believe UNc has yet rostered a graduated senior player in any sport, probably indicating that our compliance officers are in a wait-and-see mode as well.
it is possible that Harris could at some point only have an opportunity at UNC due to lot being in the transfer portal which would make her market price artificially low with no recruiting competition. But it seems logical to me that if some court cleaned up the other barrier above, they would correct the transfer portal issue as well.
Wisne v. NCAA Emergency Motion Demands D-I Transfer Portal Pass
The Wisne v. NCAA plaintiffs contend the NCAA is wrongly blocking them from being able to play at other schools and they demand emergency relief.
www.sportico.com
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