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SoCal College Recruiting News

Lamar Odom: More Silly Questions
About College Eligibility--(May 12, 1998)

An interesting question arises now that Lamar Odom (6'-9" PF/C) has decided to announce his entry into the NBA lottery, even if it is "exploratory", as he said at his press conference.

Here's the situation: We know that under current NCAA rules, "student-athletes" may announce their intentions to place their names in the lottery, but may withdraw their names by June 25 and still maintain their NCAA D-I eligibility and not jeopardize their "amatuer" status so long as they don't sign with an agent. Odom has said he wants to play college and will not sign with an agent unless it looks like his chances of getting drafted are within the top 10 or 15.

Here's the further situation: We also know from the recent lessons of Al Harrington, Korleone Young, Rashard Lewis, and (gasp) even Ellis Richardson, that the NCAA rule does not apply to players who have not yet played any college ball, and that by announcing straight out of high school, a player forever forfeits any and all Division I eligibility, and may, if undrafted, only play at NAIA or JC level (we're unsure about D-III or D-II eligibility, but we believe such players can also play at that level if undrafted).

So here's the Q: Everyone has assumed that if Odom doesn't get drafted, or more properly withdraws his name from the draft early, that he'll be able to retain his college eligibility. But is this correct?

If Odom has thus far not been able to qualify as a "student-athlete", is he subject to the NCAA exemption which allows him to retain eligibility? Odom attended classes at UNLV, but could not qualify to play and never played a minute there. He then transferred to Rhode Island last fall, and likewise never played a mintue there either.

If he's just a "student" and not a "student-athlete", does he retain D-I eligibility if he withdraws his name?

We don't know. We just ask these silly questions. Maybe someone out there knows the answer. If so, let us know.