Mark Pope has been hard at work trying to build his Kentucky Wildcats squad for the upcoming campaign, and in the meantime, the NCAA has passed a new eligibility rule that could help players with an extra year in college.
The new 5-for-5 eligibility rule allows “Division I student-athletes up to five years of eligibility if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday,” per the NCAA, and Pope has now had his say on what that means for coaches and players alike.
“If you think about some of the players on our roster, the chance, the possibility of having them for next year is exciting for us,” Pope mentioned on BBN Tonight.
“You think about every current roster now and every single player on every roster in America, with very few exceptions, is going to get to play at least one more year.
“That has a massive impact on your recruiting of high school kids, much like COVID did, because you have a chance to get a fifth-year player and veteran players are really good so it kind of limits you in some ways to chasing the most high-profile, uber-talented, developed-physically players that can come step in and compete at the highest level of college right now.”
Does Mark Pope Like or Dislike the New Ruling?
In his final comments about the decision, Pope made it clear that Kentucky have to make the best of whatever is put in front of them, and this situation is no different.
“The 5-for-5, I think every player in college basketball loves it,” Pope went on.
“I think coaches love it. I do think there are some consequences. By our count, every year you’ll have about 250 less players that actually ever have the opportunity to play Division I college basketball, so there’s a cost there too.
“So I don’t think it’s a benefit or a harm to Kentucky, it’s just the new rules that we get to work in.”
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