The NCAA has amended its controversial agent certification requirements after the massive backlash it had with NBA players and many of the league's constituents, including Klutch Sports Group founder and agent Rich Paul. In light of it, a bachelor’s degree will no longer required to represent players testing this process as long as the agent is certified by the NBPA, the NCAA announced.
The NCAA tweaked its list of requisites before representing a high school player before he makes the decision of going pro or committing to a four-year college institution:
- 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.
Players of great stature like LeBron James quickly got at the forefront of this issue, demanding equal opportunity and claiming an uneven playing field for certified agents like Paul, who have been in the business for a while.
Chris Paul, who is the president of the National Basketball Players Association also denounced the rule by the NCAA, claiming it was a poor effort to regulate what will soon become a huge market for agents, as it was long ago before the age and education rules were put in place by former NBA commissioner David Stern.
This alteration should render Paul able to scoop up young talent, much like he did with Darius Bazley, who was drafted with the 23rd pick in the recent NBA Draft after skipping college altogether.
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