🏀 KuBuckets Archive

So all winter sport athletes have been granted an extra year of eligibility. While it's a grand gesture, I'm sure in private coaches are squirming as they consider using scholarships for kids who will say sure, the NBA isn't calling so I'll come back. Some of these are kids are players who coaches will welcome back, others, maybe coaches aren't so sure. I haven't been able to figure out if extra scholarships will be granted. Roster size rules are temporarily being waived so that is difficult question to figure how it impacts our sport.

Are some coaches telling kid, sorry Malik, there isn't any playing time for you next year because we've got to get this guy. Are other coaches 'recruiting' seniors to entice them to stay for another year?

This all seems very complicated.

Further complicating is waving sitting for a year for transfers. The recruiting of current players is going to start over. I'm sure KU will join many of the other haves and try to lure away kids who they think can help.

There's also the prospect of a team like Wisconsin starting 5 seniors, several of whom are 24 years old and having them come back as a whole. None of them are NBA material, so why not hang around and try to enter an uber experienced top 10 team into the mix?

This whole covid thing has been such a disaster in so many more important ways so I don't mean to trivialize people seriously suffering losses of life or finances. But it's going to have an impact on our sport.

@wissox I'm sure it'll be like football where not everyone will be invited back and teams will be restricted by scholarship limits so if a senior wants to come back for a super senior year, it may end up being on their own dime some in some cases. I'm betting that a lot of seniors are going to choose to move on based on what's happened with other sports as well and probably most super seniors will end up as grad transfers to mid and low major programs if they're coming from P5 programs.

KU is already full for next season on scholarships as they have 12 players this seasin with 3 incoming freshmen (Adams, Clemence, and Curry) and 2 outgoing seniors (Garrett and Lightfoot). There'd have to be a transfer to open a scholarship, but I'd be curious to see what happens with Lightfoot.

Mitch obviously loves KU, already has his undergraduate degree and I believe would be a year short of his master's degree after this year. Would Self invite Mitch back as kind of a hybrid GA, player/coach type situation to help mentor and coach up the incoming freshmen? That's something I think Self and staff should consider because Mitch has a high enough GPA that he should be able to get enough academic scholarships to cover his costs if there's financial need and then he can go get a coaching/support staff job somewhere with his master's already completed.

Under this rule, Can Garrett come back ?

@Bosthawk said in Players eligible for next season:

Under this rule, Can Garrett come back ?

yes he could come back if he wants or him and Coach agree Just like Mitch can come back - -I don't think Marcus will but you never now how it will workout

@Bosthawk In theory yes, but it's doubtful Garrett will choose that option.

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Players eligible for next season:

@Bosthawk In theory yes, but it's doubtful Garrett will choose that option.

I don't see how either of them could. If Cuffe reclassifies we're already one over the scholarship limit. They would still count as scholarships, right?

They don’t have to be given an athletic scholarship, that is up to the school

@Marco said in Players eligible for next season:

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Players eligible for next season:

@Bosthawk In theory yes, but it's doubtful Garrett will choose that option.

I don't see how either of them could. If Cuffe reclassifies we're already one over the scholarship limit. They would still count as scholarships, right?

@Marco said in Players eligible for next season:

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Players eligible for next season:

@Bosthawk In theory yes, but it's doubtful Garrett will choose that option.

I don't see how either of them could. If Cuffe reclassifies we're already one over the scholarship limit. They would still count as scholarships, right?

Read my initial response. A situation with either Garrett or Lightfoot returning next year would more than likely involve them paying their own way. That's not an option that makes sense for Garrett because he'll have his degree and be playing pro ball somewhere next season.

Mitch Lightfoot on the other hand while still not very likely to return has a higher % than Garrett. Lightfoot doesn't have a pro future in basketball, already in grad school and should finish up his master's degree in 2022. There's a plausible scenario where Mitch gets enough academic scholarships to cover his costs for next season and comes back in something like a hybrid GA/player-coach role to go mentor the incoming big men because Lightfoot screams future coach with his love and passion for the game.

Mitch coming back on academic scholarships means he'd be a walk on officially and not count against the 13 player limit.

Yeah that all makes sense. I know his coming back would be extremely unlikely, I’m Just gonna miss Garrett- one of my all time fav J-hawks. In my 25 years of closely following the team, his is the only jersey I currently own.

Yes he can bank some money overseas for a while. From his high basketball IQ, He may have the makings of a coach someday. Self absolutely loves the guy - loves him, and will help him if he wants to coach.

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Players eligible for next season:

@Marco said in Players eligible for next season:

@Texas-Hawk-10 said in Players eligible for next season:

@Bosthawk In theory yes, but it's doubtful Garrett will choose that option.

I don't see how either of them could. If Cuffe reclassifies we're already one over the scholarship limit. They would still count as scholarships, right?

Read my initial response. A situation with either Garrett or Lightfoot returning next year would more than likely involve them paying their own way. That's not an option that makes sense for Garrett because he'll have his degree and be playing pro ball somewhere next season.

Mitch Lightfoot on the other hand while still not very likely to return has a higher % than Garrett. Lightfoot doesn't have a pro future in basketball, already in grad school and should finish up his master's degree in 2022. There's a plausible scenario where Mitch gets enough academic scholarships to cover his costs for next season and comes back in something like a hybrid GA/player-coach role to go mentor the incoming big men because Lightfoot screams future coach with his love and passion for the game.

Mitch coming back on academic scholarships means he'd be a walk on officially and not count against the 13 player limit.

I understand, but there's the rub, grant them an extra year of eligibility as long as they pay their own way... That is (loophole) unless they decide to tansfer elsewhere.

@Marco Marcus Garrett will be playing professional basketball this time next year. If Mitch Lightfoot isn't playing basketball at KU next year, he'll probably be a GA somewhere next season.

@Texas-Hawk-10 I hear you. I wasn't really talking about Garrett and Lightfoot, just about the declaration in general.

Seniors who come back don't count against the scholarship limits. There has been lots of confusion on this as it pertains to football. Lightfoot and Marcus can come back and not count against the 13.

If Cuffe reclassified we would be 1 over. That stuff always works itself out. If there is a spot available in 21 and his academics are in order it sounds like that is something that will be decided when the time comes

I think the Curry situation is something to monitor. His teammate last yr went juco to 2nd round. The NBA is aware of him

Speaking of my favorite player- espn article ranking the top 25 players this season...

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/30361224/ranking-top-25-players-men-college-basketball-2020-21-season ↗

I really feel for Marcus. I think he could be one of the biggest victims to Covid.

Imagine life without Covid. Hard to believe Kansas wouldn't make the Final Four last year. With that accomplishment, Marcus could have left on a high note. Defensive POY, FF team, showing progress on his offensive, leaving early so having an extra year of youth... I think it may have been his best NBA shot.

Now with Covid. He's back on a young team trying to establish identity. He's moved over to the PG spot, which is really the same kind of sacrifice EJ made. I don't see Marcus receiving big pro attention this year, unless something major changes. What makes this worse... I'm hearing bad things about foreign prospect opportunities not only this year but already for next year. What will Marcus do? Circle the airport? I'm not sure Kansas would have room for him returning.

I hope I'm way off on what I sense. I've been a Marcus fan from the early days when most didn't see his potential.