The Official Olivier Sarr Thread (UPDATE: NCAA Rules Sarr Eligible, SEC Hasn't Yet)

[Matt Dillon]

I'm not sure what, if anything, the other decisions mean where Sarr is concerned. Unless I'm mistaken, none of their situations were like his.

[George]

I'm not sure what, if anything, the other decisions mean where Sarr is concerned. Unless I'm mistaken, none of their situations were like his.

Just that they might convey some newfound leniency on the NCAA’s part under our current circumstances.

[Lighthouse]

I sure hope they clear him to play, but I won't get the hope's to high until they do.

[J.Jennings]

What about the shot blocker from OSU?

[George]

Sarr's chances of getting his waiver approved may have just taken a serious hit: https://kentuckysportsradio.com/bask...ter-nba-draft/.

He may opt to explore the NBA route now, anyway.

[Dwight Schrute]

That sucks...hopefully the NCAA is planning to grant waivers to whoever wants one.

[Catsrock]

If Sarr's dream is to take this opportunity to go pro then best of luck to him. But he decided to leave Wake 7 weeks ago and chose UK six weeks ago. That's been his plan for 6 weeks of one of the toughest times in most of our memories in this country. If he still wants to be a Cat the NCAA has no place to tell him "no that was the basis of your waiver application--you either go pro or you're inelligble." They're showing a human side in other cases. Olivier should get similar treatment.

He may well go ahead and enter the draft anyway but this is an opportunity for the NCAA to actually be "for the student athlete" as they always claim.

[Los Gatos]

If Sarr's dream is to take this opportunity to go pro then best of luck to him. But he decided to leave Wake 7 weeks ago and chose UK six weeks ago. That's been his plan for 6 weeks of one of the toughest times in most of our memories in this country. If he still wants to be a Cat the NCAA has no place to tell him "no that was the basis of your waiver application--you either go pro or you're inelligble." They're showing a human side in other cases. Olivier should get similar treatment.

He may well go ahead and enter the draft anyway but this is an opportunity for the NCAA to actually be "for the student athlete" as they always claim.

Sorry, I disagree. The NCAA comes under persistent criticism for being inconsistent. To grant Sarr a waiver when he doesn't meet the current guidelines would be very inconsistent.

[Catsrock]

Sorry, I disagree. The NCAA comes under persistent criticism for being inconsistent. To grant Sarr a waiver when he doesn't meet the current guidelines would be very inconsistent.

No need for sorrow. Just difference of opinion. But what guidelines have you determined he doesn't meet?

[Los Gatos]

No need for sorrow. Just difference of opinion. But what guidelines have you determined he doesn't meet?

Here are the guidelines as they were revised prior to the Fields/Martell waivers. I don't see any basis for the first quideline.

-The transfer is due to documented mitigating circumstances that are outside the student-athlete’s control and directly impact the health, safety and well-being of the student-athlete
-At the time of transfer to the certifying institution, the student-athlete would have been athletically and academically eligible and in good standing on the team had he or she remained at the previous institution;
-The certifying institution must certify that the student-athlete meets percentage-of degree requirements
-The previous institution’s athletics administration does not oppose the transfer.

[justford]

Will Cal encourage him to test the waters??

[Catsrock]

Here are the guidelines as they were revised prior to the Fields/Martell waivers. I don't see any basis for the first quideline.

-The transfer is due to documented mitigating circumstances that are outside the student athlete’s control and directly impact the health, safety and well-being of the student-athlete
-At the time of transfer to the certifying institution, the student-athlete would have been athletically and academically eligible and in good standing on the team had he or she remained at the previous institution;
-The certifying institution must certify that the student-athlete meets percentage-of degree requirements
-The previous institution’s athletics administration does not oppose the transfer.

The well-being of the student athlete is what gives the NCAA the leeway to rule whatever they want in each case. J Juzang likely would be better isolated from the coronavirus in KY than in Los Angeles. But his well-being allows him to be closer to home. IF they want they can clearly rule it's in Sarr's best interest to go forward with the plan he made a couple months ago before the NBA changed things again.

In the end it probably won't matter. He probably wants to take this opportunity to get rich. But the NCAA always leaves themselves the wiggle room to rule whatever they want.

Thank you for posting the NCAA's guidelines. I don't know that I had read that--had just heard generalizations of what they were looking for. Actually that's all the guidelines offer though. I suspect virtually ZERO transfer applicants are risking their safety, health AND well being by staying at their original school and lots of waivers have been granted.

The other 3 stipulations are basically automatic unless the original school wants to make things difficult for him/her. If Sarr had stayed at Wake like they begged him they certainly weren't going to declare him academically inelligible.

[JFCats22]

This change is terrible news for UK’s chances at getting him the waiver. I don’t see anyway that Saar qualifies for a waiver now.

[George]

Even if he qualifies, it’s hard to see him sticking with college.

[Dwight Schrute]

This change is terrible news for UK’s chances at getting him the waiver. I don’t see anyway that Saar qualifies for a waiver now.

Of course you don't.