Keith Srakocic/Associated Press
The NCAA recently implemented the so-called Rich Paul Rule, which requires agents looking to represent student-athletes to have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree, among other criteria.
The NCAA subsequently issued a statement on its new policy Wednesday:
Inside the NCAA @InsidetheNCAA
NCAA statement on agent certification requirements: https://t.co/MRy7Xg4Y7r
According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the new rules require not only a bachelor’s degree but also at least three years of NBPA certification as well as an in-person exam at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.
Per Jeff Borzello of ESPN, agents must also “agree to cooperate with the NCAA in connection with its investigation and analysis of possible rules violations, even if the alleged violations are unrelated to [their] NCAA-agent certification.”
The NCAA said in a memo the new rules, which went into effect on Aug. 1, were implemented “to protect the collegiate eligibility” of the student-athletes, via The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie:
Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Here is the memo that was sent to agents yesterday regarding the new rules for representing clients that are “testing the waters for the NBA Draft.”
The NCAA refers to it as “protecting the eligibility of their client athletes.”
Yeah, this is a bad look for the NCAA. https://t.co/JhzN1c6NyJ
The new rules got the attention of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who went from high school straight to the NBA, and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chris Paul:
LeBron James @KingJames
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop! They BIG MAD 😡 and Scared 😱. Nothing will stop this movement and c