The NCAA announced several new policies and rules today, including that players will now be allowed to return to school if they declare for the NBA draft but are not selected. The current rule only permits players to maintain eligibility if they withdraw from the draft 10 days after the NBA combine, while those who take part in the combine and go undrafted are left with the G League or the prospect of playing overseas.
According to ESPN, another significant change that was adopted by the NCAA's Board of Governors and Division I Board of Directors is allowing "elite" high school basketball recruits and players to be represented by agents who are certified by the NCAA while still playing. This new rule aims to help highly touted high school players "make informed decisions about going pro."
Additionally, the NCAA's Board of Governors and Division I Board of Directors will allow high school players to take more official visits to colleges, and they've introduced more rigorous certification requirements for summer basketball-related events and high school players can take more official visits to colleges. There will also be longer postseason bans, head coach suspensions and increased recruiting restrictions for college coaches who break the rules.
"These changes will promote integrity in the game, strengthen accountability and prioritize the interest of student-athletes over every other factor," NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a statement. "We remain committed to promoting fairness in college sports and creating an environment that will champion the success of student-athletes."
Emmert said the NCAA would continue to work with the NBA, National Basketball Players Association, apparel companies and USA Basketball to come up with more solutions, according to ESPN.