Arkansas head coach John Calipari sent a letter to Congress on behalf of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on Wednesday.
The letter, co-signed by several other NABC members, supports the Protect College Sports Act, a bill recently introduced by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell.
On the age-based 5-in-5 model, Calipari says:
"We support an age-based eligibility model in which a student-athlete's five-year eligibility window begins upon initial full-time enrollment in college or at the beginning of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever occurs first."
He also addressed concerns about the transfer portal, saying:
"If a student-athlete chooses to transfer more than once, they should not be eligible to compete during the next season; however they should be able to practice and earn revenue share, NIL opportunities and other benefits the same as participating student-athletes."
The letter goes on to talk about international student-athletes. Calipari says international players who enroll in college no later than the academic year following their 19th birthday should be given the same five-year window of competitive eligibility as their American counterparts.
On those who enroll after their 19th birthday, Calipari says:
"Their pre-enrollment history should be evaluated through the lens of professional participation, and any determination that the athlete competed at a professional level during that period could result in a corresponding loss of eligibility."
The NABC and NCAA have spent the better part of the last five years lobbying Congress to pass legislation granting them legal authority to enforce NCAA rules. They're hoping to capitalize on the momentum of this new bill and the upcoming Division I Cabinet vote on the 5-in-5 eligibility proposal.
Speaking of John Calipari, he landed a commitment from four-star guard Davion Thompson yesterday. Thompson is the No. 21 overall prospect in the class of 2027, according to 247Sports. There are rumblings that Thompson could reclassify and join the Razorbacks this season, but nothing is confirmed or finalized yet.
Big things are coming for Basket Under Review in our second season, including new writers! We're pleased to announce the addition of Joe Jackson to the weekly lineup.
Joe is best known for his in-depth breakdowns and high-quality coverage of the Big Ten. He will be bringing his talents to BUR and expanding his coverage to a more nationwide lens. Check out his YouTube channel and read his announcement below.
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