Kentucky Basketball: NCAA won’t implement one-time transfer rule this year

The one-time transfer rule has been a very fluid situation.

Initially, reports were that the rule was going to pass and go into effect immediately, allowing undergraduates to transfer to a different college one time and not have to sit out a season. However, the most recent report was that the new rule wouldn’t go into effect until the 2021-22 season.

Now, we have a final word on the matter, as the NCAA has decided to table discussions on the rule until 2021.

Earlier this year, the Transfer Waiver Working Group, which was appointed by the NCAA last fall, recommended that the waiver guidelines allow for a one-time transfer with immediate eligibility for the student-athletes.

However, the Division I Board of Directors and Presidential Forum recently recommended against undergraduate athletes being granted the one-time transfer exception. That’s why it’s no surprise to see that the one-time transfer is being tabled until 2021.

This means that the Kentucky Wildcats will have to get separate waiver to get Olivier Sarr eligible next season for the men’s basketball team. The Wake Forest transfer would normally have to sit out next season, but Kentucky is hoping to get a waiver since Sarr’s coach, Danny Manning, was fired right before the NBA Draft deadline. Sarr was planning to declare for it, but Manning talked him out of it before being fired shortly thereafter.

In addition, Rhode island transfer Jacob Toppin must sit out next season, though Kentucky was already planning on him not playing much, if at all. He doesn’t have any extenuating circumstances with his decision to transfer.

The football team is also hoping to get Auburn transfer quarterback Joey Gatewood eligible this year, while the women’s basketball team has two incoming transfers — Jazmine Massengill and Robyn Bentonnow — who now likely have to sit out next season.