The changing and complicated world of college sports continues to venture into new territories.
Rampant transfers and the NIL compensation have turned things upside down in recent years and now junior colleges could be in for a huge change.
On Dec. 23, the NCAA approved a waiver to former junior-college athletes who would use up their eligibility this school year to have an extra year of NCAA eligibility.
There already has been talk that the NCAA could entertain a ruling to not count junior-college seasons against the athletes’ NCAA eligibility clock. That would allow an athlete to spend two years at a junior college and still have four years of NCAA eligibility remaining.
Debates rage on about whether this is a good idea or not as some argue that the high school athlete will suffer trying to find a college home.
But Moraine Valley men’s basketball coach Kyle Huppe sees it as a win for junior-college athletes.
“To me, it’s great for the student-athletes,” Huppe said. “At the junior-college level and the Division III levels, the NIL isn’t there as it is for the higher-level Division II and Division I schools.
“A Division I prospect can go to a junior college knowing that it will not count against the clock of the NCAA. An athlete can get older, faster, stronger and develop their skills better and then go to a Division I school.”
Not many people are talking about the academic advantages of these potential changes. But Huppe points out that a student can put in two years at a junior college and earn an associate’s degree.
By the time a student is a junior at a four-year college, he or she could start on an advanced degree that is paid for, or mostly paid for.
“They can finish a master’s degree and have some NIL money to start off with their life,” he said.
“That’s a hell of a situation.”
There is still a way to go before the NCAA makes a decision. But if it comes to fruition, Huppe thinks it will help junior colleges across the nation as well.
“I don’t see it as a bad thing for junior colleges at all,” he said. “If anything, it makes a junior college more attractive to a player, right?”
Thrillers
Both of St. Xavier’s basketball teams had a day to remember on Dec. 21 in Gary, Indiana.
The women edged Indiana Northwest 64-63 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference as Aaliyahna Derrell hit a game-winning free throw with one second left. The Cougars (8-4, 4-1) won their fifth straight.
The men then won 95-93 as Julian Barr hit a game-winning 3-pointer with five seconds left and IUN turned the ball over to help the Cougars (8-3, 4-1) to the win. Oak Lawn graduate Davion Lawrence had a season-high 20 points.
Night of champions
Mount Carmel will celebrate a Night of Champions Jan. 18 at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park.
The 1999 state championship football team, Mike Minogue, Jordan Lynch, Alex Tsirtsis, Phil Segroves and the Antonietti family will be honored.
Sports bits
– Marist volleyball standout Nathen Toth committed to Division III Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is ranked as the second-best club player in Illinois behind RedHawks teammate Christian Teresi by Sports Performance/Illinois Prep Volleyball.
– Brother Rice hockey forwards James Esposito and Jack Gaskin plus defenseman Nathan Wilczak and goalie Deven Stillo were named to the Chicago Catholic Hockey League All-Star team.
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