Panel Steers Away From Freshman Ban

A special NCAA committee will not recommend making men’s college basketball players ineligible for competition during all or part of their freshman season because of potential legal problems, several sources familiar with the group’s deliberations said this week.

Instead, the committee is focusing on strengthening existing eligibility rules. The group will meet July 19-20 in Chicago and plans to announce a broad-based package of recommendations thereafter.

Legal observers who followed two major recent courtroom setbacks for the NCAA in the areas of antitrust and race discrimination say a rule aimed at one segment of athletes, especially one that is 80% black, is inviting further costly litigation.