NCAA Changing Rules To Essentially Eliminate "Testing Waters"

ESPN reports:

College basketball players will have less time to decide whether to stay in the NBA draft and college football players will be spending more time in the classroom.

The NCAA's Board of Directors adopted changes Thursday that will take effect next season and could have a significant impact on those in the two highest-profile college sports. ...

Basketball players must decide before the first day of the spring signing period, typically mid-April, to pull out of the draft and retain their college eligibility. This year, players have until May 8 to withdraw from the draft.

"For players, I just don't see how that helps them a whole lot," Butler forward Matt Howard said Thursday during a shootaround at Hinkle Fieldhouse. "It almost makes it pointless to put your name out and not sign with an agent."

That seems to be the exact purpose for the rule.This will allow coaches more time to know exactly who is staying and who is leaving. This move hurts a player individually but it is designed to give college coaches more space to figure out the direction of the program.

I think there will more on this front as the new CBA discussions in NBA may also add more restrictions which could include a minimum age requirement for entry into the association. More to come I think.