Rankings & School Lists Select Item - Class Of - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2010 2009 2009JC 2008 2008JC 2007 2007JC 2006 2006JC 2005 2005JC 2004 2003 2003JC 2002 2002JC 2001 2001JC      Shabazz Muhammad is the ringleader of the 2012 class. Check out our top-10 player rankings from the past. You'll recognize these names. Program Profiles Select Item HotList U      TimeTravel: 1980 Top Recruiting Classes Parade of Programs: Conference breakdown from the Recruiter's Handbook Video Exclusives Select Item NCAA Calendar      Event Calendar: PrepStars.com features a comprehensive event calendar, courtesy of the NCAA

WARE SCENARIO UNDERSCORES
NCAA LOOPHOLE

Rob Harrington
robharrington@prepstars.com
April 20, 2011

When Georgia wing Kevin Ware committed to Tennessee long ago, his college future seemed secure. His hoops future was detoured against his will, however, when Bruce Pearl was fired as head coach of the Volunteers. Ware already had signed with Tennessee but weighed his options and decided to obtain a release from his letter of intent, which was granted.

And here’s where it gets interesting. In complete good faith, Ware committed and signed with Central Florida early this week. Only, because of an NCAA technicality, the letter of intent was rejected by the NCAA itself.

Why?

Well, the NCAA has a rule in place that recruits — in its terminology, “prospective student-athletes,” or PSAs — may sign only one letter of intent during any academic year. Because Ware inked with UT back in November, he isn’t allowed to sign another letter of intent this spring because technically this remains the 2010-11 academic year.

But the rule makes no prohibition against a PSA signing scholarship papers, which — in stark contrast to the letter of intent — binds the university to the player (for one season) but doe not bind the player to the university. Thus, at this moment UCF is bound to award Ware a scholarship next season, but he won’t be bound to them until he enrolls there.

All this raises a question: Why don’t more top recruits refuse to sign a LOI, thereby giving them power over the schools? College coaches obviously want them to sign, of course, setting their minds at ease and enabling them to focus on other recruiting needs.

Further, most players wouldn’t have the leverage to play hardball and may lose their scholarship to another high-valued prospect. Only the true elites could compel schools to wait on their terms, or else some very powerful high school programs — such as those helmed by Stu Vetter over the years — have policies in place designed to protect their players.

More to the point, Ware’s experience typifies the somewhat inconsistent and arbitrary manner in which the NCAA operates. In this particular instance, Ware appears determined to follow through and play for the Knights, but theoretically he could change his mind at any time between now and when he sets foot on campus.