JUCO and NCAA Eligibility

[Sycamore Blue]

Apparently high school baseball coaches are NOT happy with this. Saw several social media posts from folks involved in youth baseball where they predict you'll see kids now classify up and then go to JUCO where they can get "better development" and you'll see fewer kids drafted out of HS within a decade.

They said it will look like high school hockey which I have zero knowledge of.

Makes perfect sense.

From personal experience, JUCO academics are less demanding than high school academics and JUCO sports have more development and time commitment than high school sports. There are also a lot less regulations on practice time and development at the JUCO level.

Even if guys don’t reclassify, going JUCO allows kids to be drafted as a freshman or sophomore in baseball. If a kid goes NCAA out of high school they can’t be drafted until they are a junior or are 21 years old.

 

[DyedBlue]

Apparently high school baseball coaches are NOT happy with this. Saw several social media posts from folks involved in youth baseball where they predict you'll see kids now classify up and then go to JUCO where they can get "better development" and you'll see fewer kids drafted out of HS within a decade.

They said it will look like high school hockey which I have zero knowledge of.

Many of your BEST HS-age hockey players do not play on their High School teams, rather they play for traveling club teams against the best competition available. Of course, only the select, very good players are playing at this level and many quite good players are on their HS teams. But if you are looking for a college scholarship to an elite program, you probably are not playing HS hockey.

 

[DyedBlue]

It does seem that four years of eligibility after JUCO would have a chance to benefit Indiana State baseball which recruits a lot of JC players. Now, the deal is two years and maybe only one if you are quite good. Having 4 years of ISU eligibility might allow for continued player development and some increased roster stability.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Many of your BEST HS-age hockey players do not play on their High School teams, rather they play for traveling club teams against the best competition available. Of course, only the select, very good players are playing at this level and many quite good players are on their HS teams. But if you are looking for a college scholarship to an elite program, you probably are not playing HS hockey.

Makes sense. When I was living in Fishers, the Indiana Ice had their junior team or whatever which were all HS aged kids IIRC and they came from all over and lived with host families in the area.

 

[pbutler218]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1875189417201316040

 

[RunSyc]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1875189417201316040

I thought NCAA somehow cave. Follows their pattern of behavior. Love SP for the in-depth info/analysis.

 

[sycamorebacker]

So that increases the pool of players by 25%? That will be tough for players that are marginally talented and will increase the quality of play, right? Will that also help cap the NIL money?

So it's 5 years including the JC years, I assume. Otherwise, they would be playing 7 years.

 

[RunSyc]

So that increases the pool of players by 25%? That will be tough for players that are marginally talented and will increase the quality of play, right? Will that also help cap the NIL money?

So it's 5 years including the JC years, I assume. Otherwise, they would be playing 7 years.

Good questions. Wonder if non-medical redshirt rule would be impacted (eliminated)?

Expecting NCAA to take path of least resistance with everything.

 

[TreeTop]

So it's 5 years including the JC years, I assume. Otherwise, they would be playing 7 years.

Oh wow. So a (ahem) student-athlete could spend two years at a JUCO, redshirt a year at D1, experience a medical redshirt year, play five years after that and be 28 years old in their final year of "eligibility".

 

[sycamorebacker]

Oh wow. So a (ahem) student-athlete could spend two years at a JUCO, redshirt a year at D1, experience a medical redshirt year, play five years after that and be 28 years old in their final year of "eligibility".

Yes, except the medical redshirt was supposed to count for a redshirt originally. They have always "supposed" to have 5 to play 4. Would assume it would be 6 to play 5 and hopefully NO exceptions. Technically, if they count Juco they should count post-grad prep school.

So if they are not allowed to count Juco, their playing career would be 8 yrs if they allow 1 redshirt year.

 

[4Q_iu]

Oh wow. So a (ahem) student-athlete could spend two years at a JUCO, redshirt a year at D1, experience a medical redshirt year, play five years after that and be 28 years old in their final year of "eligibility".

Makes sense, especially considering how many kids are now "reclassed" in HS... oh, for the good ol' days when parents simply held their sons back "because boys develop slower..."

 

[PD INDY ALUM]

I thought NCAA somehow cave. Follows their pattern of behavior. Love SP for the in-depth info/analysis.

I have to believe this is one way to solve the problem of players never graduating if they continue to transfer each year and chase NIL money. You almost never get to transfer all your hours to a new school. The additional year would allow players to complete their degree while on scholarship before the money runs out.

 

[treeman]

This no eligibility rules thing could play out well for the Sycamores.

Take a ride with me gents.

The year is 2028. You are sitting in a packed Hulman Center as the Sycamores look to clinch a regular season title; again. Jake Odum throws a no-look pass to a streaking Larry Bird. Larry gives his iconic tip pass to a wide open Menser in the corner for a knock-down 3. Blake Simmons grabs the ball out the net quickly, Carl Nicks steals the ensuing inbounds pass and and lofts up a soft oooopp only for it to be slammed down by John Sherman Williams sending a helpless Trent Brown into the photographers on the baseline. The home crowd erupts as this seals the deal on a Championship and possible 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. You're wife gives you a kiss and $10,000 to spend on hotels, booze, tickets as the Sycs march their on another deep NCAA run. Life is good.

 

[4Q_iu]

This no eligibility rules thing could play out well for the Sycamores.

Take a ride with me gents.

The year is 2028. You are sitting in a packed Hulman Center as the Sycamores look to clinch a regular season title; again. Jake Odum throws a no-look pass to a streaking Larry Bird. Larry gives his iconic tip pass to a wide open Menser in the corner for a knock-down 3. Blake Simmons grabs the ball out the net quickly, Carl Nicks steals the ensuing inbounds pass and and lofts up a soft oooopp only for it to be slammed down by John Sherman Williams sending a helpless Trent Brown into the photographers on the baseline. The home crowd erupts as this seals the deal on a Championship and possible 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. You're wife gives you a kiss and $10,000 to spend on hotels, booze, tickets as the Sycs march their on another deep NCAA run. Life is good.

interesting scenario... is there ANY liquor left in your cabinet?

In 2028 your ISU starters are:

Bird - 72 YO
Nicks - 70 YO
JSW - 65 YO
Menser - 50 YO
Odum - 37 YO

but... an interesting scenario

 

[bluestreak]

why do these players keep trying to spin the ball into the basket? U se the backboard!

 

[southernindianaballer]

So how does this ruling impact our roster? Verbalcomitts shows we have 3 juco players. Harding, Summers and incoming St. Bernard... They all get one more year?

New JUCO Eligibility Rules?​

The week after Pavia’s injunction was granted, according to news reports, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved an extra year of eligibility only in 2025-26 for student-athletes who previously competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years (which includes junior colleges) and would have exhausted their eligibility after the 2024-25 season.

The NCAA also said it would appeal the ruling in Pavia’s case.

Does JUCO count against NCAA eligibility? Ruling Explained

Discover how JUCO affects NCAA eligibility with insights from the Vandy QB ruling and the latest updates on new JUCO eligibility rules.

www.ncsasports.org

Boda or someone please provide some expert commentary.
Also, is this the most recent related ruling?
Is Harding the only player impacted since his eligibility expires after this season?

 

[sycamorebacker]

Looks to me that it only affects seniors that went to a jr college. We don't have any, do we? There will be some in the transfer portal.

 

[GlennD]

I have a question regarding the new eligibility rules. My son was a medical redshirt freshman pitcher last year at a D-1 mid major, so he didn’t play. He’s recovering from Tommy John and is attending a local CC for academics. He plans on pitching at a Juco in the fall.
Will he be eligible for 2 years at a juco and still 4 yrs D1?
Thank you

 

[sycamorebacker]

I have a question regarding the new eligibility rules. My son was a medical redshirt freshman pitcher last year at a D-1 mid major, so he didn’t play. He’s recovering from Tommy John and is attending a local CC for academics. He plans on pitching at a Juco in the fall.
Will he be eligible for 2 years at a juco and still 4 yrs D1?
Thank you

See my post. The way I understand it the final rules have not been made for future years. Traditionally, the redshirt year counts as 1 of his 5. If he plays next year, it will be 2 of 5. I don't know how an academic year is counted, although it is supposed to be 5 years to play 4 and I thought that was 5 years of elapsed time. The rule might be 5 years of scholarship. My daughter had a career ending injury and got 5 years paid at IU which included one medical redshirt year.
And juco years have always been counted in your 5.

If someone knows more, feel free to correct me.