Drafted Preps Might Keep Eligibility

Beginning with the 2003 NBA draft, high school basketball players could be allowed to declare for the draft and even be picked without giving up their college eligibility.

The NCAA board of directors is expected to vote today at its meeting in Indianapolis on a proposal to allow drafted players to play college basketball as long as they don’t sign with a professional team or hire an agent.

Under NBA rules, the rights to a drafted player who chose to compete in college instead of signing immediately would remain with the team until one year after the end of the player’s college career.

Current NCAA rules stipulate that a high school player who declares for the professional draft loses his college eligibility, even if he isn’t drafted.

College players who declare and aren’t drafted are allowed to return to school and continue their player careers, but if they are drafted they lose their eligibility.

In legislation related to football, the board is expected to decide whether to tighten the criteria for schools to play Division I-A football, including requirements that teams average at least 15,000 in attendance and play at least five games against Division I-A opponents.

In addition, the group is expected to decide whether to lift the moratorium on the number of postseason bowl games, and to declare teams with records of 6-6 eligible to play in a bowl.