Under a new proposal from the NCAA Division I Committee, underclassmen basketball players would be allowed to return to school even after participating in the NBA Draft Combine.
A collaboration of the NCAA, NBA and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the proposal aims to allow underclassmen draft prospects to get a better reading on what professional teams' scouts think of them before committing to the NBA.
Dan Guerrero, UCLA athletic director and chair of the Division I Committee, told ESPN the proposal could go into effect in time for next year's draft if it is approved. If a college basketball player has NCAA eligibility remaining, they may declare for the NBA Draft, participate in the combine and then will have 10 days to decide whether to return to school or go forward in the draft.
"This is a positive development for student-athletes exploring their professional dreams," Dan Gavitt, NCAA vice president of men's basketball, said in a statement to ESPN. "This would give prospects and their families more appropriate time and unbiased info from the NBA to make important decisions. And it would probably lead some to go back to school."
The NCAA previously passed various rule changes that will affect how college basketball games are played. Those changes came amid criticism that the college game was not adequately preparing student-athletes for a potential professional career and was making the game slow and less exciting besides.
The new proposal appears to be in line with the NCAA wanting student-athletes to be better prepared for a pro career.
"This proposal would allow student-athletes the appropriate amount of time to make informed decisions about their professional and academic careers," Guerrero said in a news release. "The collaboration of the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the NBA in developing this concept with us was very helpful."
