The NCAA announced new criteria for agents wishing to represent a student-athlete on Tuesday, Aug. 5.
Any men’s basketball student-athlete wishing to play professional basketball but may return to their collegiate team must sign with an NCAA approved agent. These agents must be NCAA-certified and have a signed agent agreement.
Agents must have a bachelor’s degree, be in good standing with the NBPA, and be NBPA certified for at least three years in order to apply for this position.
If an agent passes the application and the background checks required to apply, they must take an in-person exam at NCAA headquarters.
The application to become an NCAA-certified agent also requires a $250 application fee.
Many fans on Twitter joked that the NCAA is scared of legendary agent Rich Paul and that is why they made this rule change.
As of 7 p.m. EST on August 5, Rich Paul is the No. 1 trend in the United States on Twitter.
Paul has no bachelor’s degree and famously made his career after he met LeBron James at an airport. There is no clear reason as to why the NCAA would target Paul or if he is even the target of this rule change.
Paul represents multiple high-level NBA players including James and Anthony Davis.
This is a clear showing of power over these student-athletes by the NCAA.
