NCAA Cracks Down on Transfer Rules for Men’s, Women’s Basketball

The NCAA ruled to crack down on the transfer portal period for men’s and women’s basketball on Wednesday, Jan. 14, shortening the transfer window to a 15-day period following the conclusion of their respective national championship games. The rule change will go into effect immediately.

Last year, players had the opportunity to enter their name in the portal for up to 30 days — more if their team changed coaches — with that period beginning in the middle of the NCAA Tournament.

Should a head coaching change occur, per the league release, another 15 day window will open five days after the new coach’s hiring; the release cited a number of other specifications for coaching changes.

The league also cracked down on midyear transfers, making it so they can’t compete at the school they transfer to in the same academic year they were enrolled at their initial school.

With college programs testing the boundaries of roster construction in recent weeks, attempting to bring in former NBA G-League players or signing overseas professionals in the middle of the season, this marks an important step toward regulation in this free-for-all era of the transfer portal.