One-time transfer rule “highly unlikely” to go into effect for next season

The one-time transfer rule has been a very fluid situation, as we have heard reports that is was going to pass and go into effect immediately, then it was reported that the vote be delayed until January.

However, now it would appear that the vote is still scheduled for May 20^th according to Jeff Goodman, but it is now “highly unlikely” that the rule change would go into effect immediately.

The Transfer Waiver Working Group that was appointed by the board last fall recommended that the waiver guidelines allow for a one-time transfer with immediate eligibility for the student-athletes.

The working group also recommended that the board lift the moratorium on transfer legislation to allow the membership to consider recommendations that could result in permanent access to the new one-time transfer rule for all Division 1 student-athletes.

The NCAA said in a release, “The board agreed to lift the moratorium on transfer legislation for the 2020-21 legislative cycle but recommended to the Council that changes to the waiver process as suggested by the working group are not appropriate at this time. Board members recommended the waiver process be sensitive to student-athlete well-being, especially those impacted by COVID-19 in the interim period.”

This situation has changed a number of times in the past week, and I wouldn’t count on this being the last change the NCAA makes about this rule change recommendation.

Saying this, it’s pretty clear that John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats shouldn’t get their hopes up on finding a big man in the transfer market unless it’s a grad transfer.