The NCAA has decided to enforce a rule that may effect Ball State basketball player Theron Smith's decision on entering the NBA draft.
Smith, who finished his junior year last season, made himself eligible for the draft April 17, but decided not to retain an agent, enabling him to return to school and play next season.
Monday the NCAA announced that they would be enforcing bylaws that says any underclassman participating in pre-draft camps where a score is kept, team rosters are predetermined and uniforms are used for the team, the student athlete will be withheld from the number of games they played in the draft.
A player would not be able to perform at the beginning of the season, depending on how many games he played in the camp. The player would be considered ineligible. Leeland Zeller of the NCAA said the player may be withheld for twice the number of games, but it rarely happens.
"The timing of it is a bit difficult," head coach Tim Buckley said.
Smith had expectations of displaying his skills in the Chicago camp from June 5 to 8. The camp accepts the top 60 players eligible for the draft and is to be decided Monday. Players will find out on Tuesday.
Smith has been in Chicago training with personal trainer Tim Glover, in hopes of being invited to the Chicago camp.
Smith has until June 19 to withdraw from the June 26 NBA draft. With all the underclassmen entries, the new enforcement my shorten the draft list.
Stanford forward Casey Jacobsen has thought about withdrawing his name from the draft due to this development. However, Ohio University forward Brandon Hunter declared himself as an underclassman for the draft.
David Land, director of compliance, is in charge of registering the violation to the NCAA. Land could not be reached for comment.
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