josh fisher

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

NLOI Saga: Josh Fisher Reportedly
Visits St. Louis--(May 22, 1999)

Ordinarily, we wouldn't really keep following the wanderings and meanderings of either Josh Fisher (6'-3" Sr. SG/SF) from Mercer Island HS, on Mercer Island, WA, or Lorenzo Romar, who is now coaching St. Louis, but because they are both linked to SoCal by the happenstance of the National Letter of Intent (which seems to be the flavor of the month) we think this one is noteworthy.

Seems that the athletic combo guard is taking an official visit to St. Louis University from Thursday, May 20 through Saturday, May 22, where he'll visit with and continue his recruiting with former Pepperdine coach and now head Billiken, Lorenzo Romar.

But what's really interesting about Fisher is the following: He's a prime example of the dangers of signing a National Letter of Intent. Fisher, who signed with Pepperdine in the fall, did obtain a "Qualified Release" from his Pepperdine National Letter of Intent. As we all know now, Fisher sought the release after Head Coach Lorenzo Romar left Pepperdine for St. Louis.

What is a "Qualified Release?" Here's the actual text from the National Letter of Intent (emphasis added), but really, this is actually the NOLI language which is contained in every LOI signed by an athlete:

Qualified Release Agreement. A qualified release agreement shall be provided in the event the institution and I mutually agree to release each other from any obligations to the NLI. I understand that if I receive this qualified release, I shall not be eligible for competition at a second NLI institution during my first academic year of residence there, and I shall lose one season of competition. This Qualified Release Agreement form must be signed by me, my parent or legal guardian, and the Director of Athletics of the institution named in this document, and I must file a copy of the Qualified Release Agreement with the conference which processes this NLI. (A Qualified Release Agreement may be obtained from the institution named in this document.)

a. Authority to Release. A coach is not authorized to void, cancel or give a release to this NLI.

b.Extent of the Qualified Release Agreement. The provisions of the Qualified Release Agreement shall apply to all participating institutions and shall not be conditional or selective by institution.

So even though Romar, who recruited Fisher is no longer at Pepperdine, and even though Pepperdine agreed that it would be harsh and maybe even a little unfair to hold Fisher to the LOI agreed to release him from the LOI, he still is potentially subject to losing two years of athletic eligibility. Yeow.

Fisher, who led Mercer Island to the State 3A title in Washington this past year, wasn't suffering from a lack of recruiting attention. He had interest from San Jose State, Tulane, Colorado State, Boise State, Eastern Washington and other schools. But for the slip of a pen, he might be able to play next season, and the season afterwards, and still get a top quality education in the process. But because of the NLOI rules, Fisher may need to forego his academics in order to save his eligibility by enrolling at a prep school. He will petition the NCAA to avoid the mandatory one-year transfer residency penalty, which is, in fact an NCAA rule, but he will also need to petition the National Letter of Intent Steering Committee to avoid the penalty.