The NCAA has recently implemented significant changes in player movement regulations, ushering in a new era of flexibility and opportunity in college basketball. A recent NCAA memo obtained by The Athletic reveals that schools are now permitted to host an unlimited number of official visits for both men’s and women’s basketball recruits. This represents a departure from previous restrictions, which limited the number of official visits schools could conduct.

Since July 1 of last year, student-athletes have enjoyed the freedom to partake in an unlimited number of official visits, yet recruits were restricted to only one official visit per school, unless there was a head coaching change after their initial visit. However, recognizing concerns regarding roster stability, the men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees advocated for schools to be granted the flexibility to host as many recruits on official visits as deemed necessary to maintain their roster strength year over year.

This move comes amidst a landscape where student-athletes are now empowered to make unlimited transfers and can potentially gain immediate eligibility upon changing schools. Consequently, many programs find themselves in the position of rebuilding their rosters almost entirely during the offseason. This trend, coupled with the emergence of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, has led to an unprecedented level of player movement via the transfer portal.

In another significant development, the NCAA Division I Council recently approved a rule allowing schools to facilitate deals between student-athletes and third parties, a move aimed at embracing the evolving landscape of NIL opportunities. While this adjustment deviates from NCAA President Charlie Baker’s initial proposal to centralize NIL activities within schools, it nonetheless addresses many critical aspects of the issue, marking a notable step forward in the realm of college athletics.