David Bender writes:
>In today's Chicago Tribune there is an article about a local High School
>basketball star declaring himself eligible for the NBA draft.  By doing,
this
>player has made himself ineligible for any future college eligibility.  The
>source for this ruling was NCAA legislative director Steve Mallonee.
>My question is this:  Given the case that basketball players forfeit
>eligibility by being drafted, how is that the college hockey players remain
>eligible while being drafted?  Is it a totally different rule for hockey?
 Or
>are the players drafted regardless of their declaration or desire to be
drafted?
 
NC$$ rules do not prohibit a player from being drafted. The only NC$$
prohibition related to professional drafts can be found in Rule 12.2.4.2 which
 states that a "An individual loses amateur status in a particular sport when
the individual asks to be placed on the draft list ... of a professional
league in that sport..."  A limited exception to this rule (Rule 1.2.4.2.1)
has been made for basketball. Under Rule 1.2.4.2.1, a collegiate basketball
player may enter a professional draft one time "during his collegiate career"
in order to test the waters.  After the draft he is given thirty days to
declare his intention to return to his collegiate team.  If this is done the
basketball player does not lose his NC$$ eligibility.  It must be noted that
the player may not retain an agent during this period or he will lose his
eligibility for having hired an agent (Rule 12.3.1).
 
With respect to the NHL draft, prior to this year, any player could be
drafted since his name was automatically on the draft list.  This year (and
presumably in subsequent years) any 19 year old player can be drafted without
losing his NC$$ eligibility because he has not "asked" to be put on the NHL
draft list.  On the other hand, an 18 year old player would lose his NC$$
eligibility since 18 year olds are only eligible for the draft if they "opt
in".
 
With respect to the high school basketball player that is referred to, I
assume that he does not fall within the above basketball exception because he
has not yet begun his "collegiate career".