Why would UK or LSU vote for this? The Sankey news nobody seems to be talking about?

PastorofMuppets82

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Were they doing this way back in the day? IIRC players declared they were leaving, and that was it.
No. It's pretty common to test draft waters, try out for teams and do individual workouts in the lead up to the draft and evaluate whether or not to pull your name out and return to college (for undergrads). Even to sign Exhibit-10 contracts (which is newer), which gets you roughly 4 games over ten days in a showcase to try and earn an actual NBA contract. The 10 day contract basically pays your for your time and holds your rights to be signed by the team you are trying out for. I think it's actually pretty egregious to make signing that 10 day tryout contract make you ineligible for college when international guys can play professional basketball for years on pretty solid money contracts and be eligible. Not saying they shouldn't be, but what makes N'Daiye not a pro and allowed to play for UK and Mitchell a pro and not allowed to play for UK?

Under Cal for a recent examples: Briscoe (2016), Marcus Lee (2016), Antonio Reeves (2023) for example all entered the draft process, tried out for teams, did workouts, and eventually pulled out of the draft and returned to college.

Interesting thing about seniors though. They don't "declare" for the NBA draft cannot "withdrawal" from the draft. They are automatically included in the NBA draft (draftable), whether they attend the workouts and go through the process or not. There's not a process for a "graduating" senior to remove their name from the draft. So Mitchell for example, couldn't pull his name out of the draft. All of the 2022 guys (without previous waivers/redshirts) were in the draft technically. Aberdeen, Trimble, Kohler, Hall, all of them could have had their names called on draft night. Pretty sure there's an even more absurd rule on international players that allows them to be drafted without them ever entering the draft after they reach a certain age. Somebody else would have to clarify that though.
 
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NociHTTP

Heisman
Mar 8, 2023
13,062
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No. It's pretty common to test draft waters, try out for teams and do individual workouts in the lead up to the draft and evaluate whether or not to pull your name out and return to college (for undergrads). Even to sign Exhibit-10 contracts (which is newer), which gets you roughly 4 games over ten days in a showcase to try and earn an actual NBA contract. The 10 day contract basically pays your for your time and holds your rights to be signed by the team you are trying out for. I think it's actually pretty egregious to make signing that 10 day tryout contract make you ineligible for college when international guys can play professional basketball for years on pretty solid money contracts and be eligible. Not saying they shouldn't be, but what makes N'Daiye not a pro and allowed to play for UK and Mitchell a pro and not allowed to play for UK?

Under Cal for a recent examples: Briscoe (2016), Marcus Lee (2016), Antonio Reeves (2023) for example all entered the draft process, tried out for teams, did workouts, and eventually pulled out of the draft and returned to college.

Interesting thing about seniors though. They don't "declare" for the NBA draft cannot "withdrawal" from the draft. They are automatically included in the NBA draft (draftable), whether they attend the workouts and go through the process or not. There's not a process for a "graduating" senior to remove their name from the draft. So Mitchell for example, couldn't pull his name out of the draft. All of the 2022 guys (without previous waivers/redshirts) were in the draft technically. Aberdeen, Trimble, Kohler, Hall, all of them could have had their names called on draft night. Pretty sure there's an even more absurd rule on international players that allows them to be drafted without them ever entering the draft after they reach a certain age. Somebody else would have to clarify that though.
I'm really referring to players holding programs hostage while they "go through the process". I just don't remember this being a thing. By "way back" I'm talking older than Cal. I'm old. In my mind if you have your sights set on the pro's, and you make it known, then you really don't belong back in the college game in terms of players that actually want to play for said school. That's where I'm going with this. It's just way, way too much about the players and a long time ago it was about the school and coach.
 

PastorofMuppets82

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So ncaa baseball players are the only ones now allowed to be drafted and still decide their fate. I’m surprised no lawyer has made this argument. Why are they exempt
I believe the exception is for baseball and how the MLB and NCAA structured the draft process, you automatically become draft eligible after turning 18 and graduating high school (though there are steps for applying to indicate you are interested in being scouted/selected). The important distinction is the MLB draft is classified as an Amateur Draft, verses a professional one. A team can draft "your rights" without you ever making the decision to go into MLB over college. You do not have to sign a contract and can choose to attend college instead, but must stay in college until age 21 at that point. Things may have changed some recently, but that's pretty much the process. It is specifically labelled an Amateur Draft for a reason, and I'm guessing that is to keep your Amateur status until you sign with the team that drafted you. I doubt the NFL and the NBA have worked together to structure a similar setup recently, outside of age restrictions and rules that are basically forcing kids to go to college for a year before declaring for the NBA draft, whereas you used to be able to go to the NBA right out of High School.

There used to be 50 rounds in the MLB draft. I played with several guys in college drafted in the 47-50th rounds where teams were doing the "draft and follow" process with all those late picks. A team drafts you for your rights and if you pop off in college and develop, you are theirs to sign later. Not sure if that is still a thing, especially since the MLB draft is only 20 rounds now.
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
43,197
65,772
113
So ncaa baseball players are the only ones now allowed to be drafted and still decide their fate. I’m surprised no lawyer has made this argument. Why are they exempt
Baseball players don’t declare, I believe. MLB just drafts who they want from high school seniors up (with the exclusion of the 3 years in college and 21).
 
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megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
16,391
16,972
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So ncaa baseball players are the only ones now allowed to be drafted and still decide their fate. I’m surprised no lawyer has made this argument. Why are they exempt
That strikes me as a very good point. I imagine there are good arguments in support of the current process. Precedent somehow ?? I don't know.
 

ScWildcat3

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Baseball players don’t declare, I believe. MLB just drafts who they want from high school seniors up (with the exclusion of the 3 years in college and 21).
I know baseball players don’t declare. That’s my point. Players like Mitchell didn’t “declare” either. They were out of eligibility so by default draft eligible. So they should be afforded the same chance to return now that they have new eligibility standards.
 

ScWildcat3

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I believe the exception is for baseball and how the MLB and NCAA structured the draft process, you automatically become draft eligible after turning 18 and graduating high school (though there are steps for applying to indicate you are interested in being scouted/selected). The important distinction is the MLB draft is classified as an Amateur Draft, verses a professional one. A team can draft "your rights" without you ever making the decision to go into MLB over college. You do not have to sign a contract and can choose to attend college instead, but must stay in college until age 21 at that point. Things may have changed some recently, but that's pretty much the process. It is specifically labelled an Amateur Draft for a reason, and I'm guessing that is to keep your Amateur status until you sign with the team that drafted you. I doubt the NFL and the NBA have worked together to structure a similar setup recently, outside of age restrictions and rules that are basically forcing kids to go to college for a year before declaring for the NBA draft, whereas you used to be able to go to the NBA right out of High School.

There used to be 50 rounds in the MLB draft. I played with several guys in college drafted in the 47-50th rounds where teams were doing the "draft and follow" process with all those late picks. A team drafts you for your rights and if you pop off in college and develop, you are theirs to sign later. Not sure if that is still a thing, especially since the MLB draft is only 20 rounds now.
I understand how it works and how baseball is different. My point was that they have the option to return and the 22’ guys should have the same option now that 5 for 5 is in play. NCAA just approves the 22 class and all this dumb stuff is solved.
 
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PastorofMuppets82

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I understand how it works and how baseball is different. My point was that they have the option to return and the 22’ guys should have the same option now that 5 for 5 is in play. NCAA just approves the 22 class and all this dumb stuff is solved.
I don't disagree. It just seems really odd that this particular class is the what the NCAA and all these conferences are choosing to go to war over when every class before them got 5 (or more) years because of Covid, and every class after them will get 5 in 5. Seems like a stupid thing to waste all that money on fighting legal battles. Should have just grandfathered in the 2022 class and went on about their day. No one can tell me the legal department for the NCAA didn't see this as a problem before announcing the 5 in 5 rule. They chose this, and the legal battle to follow, anyway.
 

ScWildcat3

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I don't disagree. It just seems really odd that this particular class is the what the NCAA and all these conferences are choosing to go to war over when every class before them got 5 (or more) years because of Covid, and every class after them will get 5 in 5. Seems like a stupid thing to waste all that money on fighting legal battles. Should have just grandfathered in the 2022 class and went on about their day. No one can tell me the legal department for the NCAA didn't see this as a problem before announcing the 5 in 5 rule. They chose this, and the legal battle to follow, anyway.
Oh absolutely. If they just issue a statement saying all 22 class guys who are not on an official pro roster can return for 1 more season. The reasoning about roster spots is dumb because there is plenty of roster spots available.
 
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TeamAmerica

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Because we don't have any "pros" ? I mean technically every single D1 athlete making money is a pro no? But we have no guys that signed or played in the NBA. May have a guy that played overseas pro though.
Mitchell played for the Nuggets in the summer league. Why is that different than playing a preseason NFL game?
 

TeamAmerica

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So ncaa baseball players are the only ones now allowed to be drafted and still decide their fate. I’m surprised no lawyer has made this argument. Why are they exempt
I dont think you have to declare yourself eligible for the MLB draft. If you go to Cillege they can't draft you until after your Junior year.
 

ScWildcat3

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I dont think you have to declare yourself eligible for the MLB draft. If you go to Cillege they can't draft you until after your Junior year.
It’s after 3 years or age 21. But to let them guys choose yes or no after the draft but now saying these basketball and football players can’t after ncaa changed the rules on them late is what I would be challenging. It’s very easy. Just say the 22 players are grandfathered in and move on from here. 5 for 5 from here on out no if ands or buts about it.
 

PastorofMuppets82

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they withdrew their names from the draft. If they hadn't, the would be ineligible.
Correct. I was responding to a poster that said ANY player who tries out for a professional team should be ineligible. Not just people who stayed in the draft. I used Milan and Moreno as examples of players who tried out for professional teams (obviously they didn't stay in the draft).
 

KYSouthpaw

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Sep 10, 2025
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Mitchell played for the Nuggets in the summer league. Why is that different than playing a preseason NFL game?
Only because when he finished his last year at Missouri, the 5 in 5 years didn't exist. If it had existed, he probably "tests the waters" and then returns to college for his final season. Makes no sense to screw the 2022 kids out of a 5th year arbitrarily.
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
43,197
65,772
113
I know baseball players don’t declare. That’s my point. Players like Mitchell didn’t “declare” either. They were out of eligibility so by default draft eligible. So they should be afforded the same chance to return now that they have new eligibility standards.
But there is no analogy to a drafted baseball player who uses all of his eligibility being permitted to return college. I am missing your attempted analogy.
 

ScWildcat3

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But there is no analogy to a drafted baseball player who uses all of his eligibility being permitted to return college. I am missing your attempted analogy.
You are missing the point. Baseball players go into the draft and get drafted then decide to go back to school and are eligible. These 22’ kids if they knew had another season would’ve returned to school and not gone into the draft. They didn’t know and couldn’t withdraw so they went through the process. Once it was determined to give kids 5 years ncaa should’ve said they can return regardless of if drafted or not.

NCAA changed the rules after the fact and now want to punish the players for not having all the information that is out there now. NCAA knew they were screwing the 22 kids and now don’t want to own up to it. If they aren’t on an official pro roster then just let them return. Simple as that.

It’s like changing the rules of a game after the final whistle and then penalizing the team for not playing by rules that didn’t exist when the game was played
 

Beatle Bum

Heisman
Sep 1, 2002
43,197
65,772
113
Only because when he finished his last year at Missouri, the 5 in 5 years didn't exist. If it had existed, he probably "tests the waters" and then returns to college for his final season. Makes no sense to screw the 2022 kids out of a 5th year arbitrarily.
I want Mitchell to be eligible but I don’t think it is an arbitrary decision. Mitchell played under the old rule and exhausted his eligibility. The new rule came into existence after Mitchell exhausted his eligibility.

People can disagree as to what would be fair but it is not arbitrary to have the new rule only apply to students who have not exhausted their eligibility. It’s a choice, whether others think it fair or not.

I believe the rule applies to Hawthorne. Under the new rule, he could have played last season and still had 4 more to play. Under the new rule, because it starts after his RS season, he only gets to compete for 4 years. Is it fair? Debatable. But it is not arbitrary. There is a reason. The NCAA decided not to grandfather in those who exhausted their eligibility under the old rules.
 
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