The NBA Reportedly “Blindsided” By New NCAA Rule Changes, Including Allowing Highschool Players To Have Agents

The NCAA introduced a set of significant new rule changes Wednesday that has left the NBA and USA Basketball “blindsided”, according to a league insider. 

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski took to Twitter to detail the response felt from the NCAA’s announcement. 

“Few are pleased w/ NCAA’s handling of release,” Wojnarowski tweeted. “USA Basketball and the NBA were blindsided w/ NCAA dictating USAB would decide which HS players could eventually hire agents. USAB doesn’t have desire or infrastructure for those evaluations. If anyone has that expertise, it’s NBA.”

While there were a number of rule changes included in the NCAA’s recent move, the most significant are as follows: 

1. Elite high school basketball recruits and college players can be represented by an agent who can help them make informed decisions about going pro.

2. Student-athletes will be able to participate in the NBA draft and return to school if undrafted, pending future action from the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association.

3. University presidents and chancellors will be personally accountable for their athletics program following the rules. 

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According to the release posted to the NCAA’s official site, the rule changes stem directly from the 2017 federal investigation into fraud in college basketball recruiting. 

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What are your thoughts on the NCAA’s new rules?