Rich Paul has weighed in on what’s been dubbed the “Rich Paul Rule.”
In an op-ed with The Athletic published Monday morning, he addresses the NCAA’s new criteria for sports agents looking to represent college basketball players through the NBA draft process.
(In case you missed that news in early August, the criteria calls for a bachelor’s degree, certification with the NBPA for at least three years, and passing an in-person exam at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.)
Paul, in short, calls the new regulations harmful and unfair, particularly to those who can’t realistically go to college.
He writes: “NCAA executives are once again preventing young people from less prestigious backgrounds, and often people of color, from working in the system they continue to control.”
You can read the op-ed in full here.
The NCAA revised its regulation on Monday.
Via NCAA.org:
“We have been made aware of several current agents who have appropriately represented former student-athletes in their professional quest and whom the National Basketball Players Association has granted waivers of its bachelor’s degree requirement. While specific individuals were not considered when developing our process, we respect the NBPA’s determination of qualification and have amended our certification criteria.
Student-athletes now can be represented by agents who meet the following requirements:
- Have a bachelor’s degree and/or are currently certified and in good standing with the NBPA.
- Have NBPA certification for a minimum of three consecutive years.
- Maintain professional liability insurance.
- Complete the NCAA qualification exam.
- Pay the required fees.”
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