New NCAA Rules Could Block LSU's International Basketball Recruits

LSU basketball coach Will Wade made a bold move last season by focusing on international talent, landing four top prospects from abroad. But a new proposal in Congress called the Protect College Sports Act threatens to wipe out those plans before they even begin. The act introduces two big changes that could leave Wade scrambling for players. First, it sets a hard five-year limit on college eligibility, counting time spent in professional leagues like the Euroleague against the total. Many of Wade's recruits, including Saliou Niang and Yam Madar, have already burned a year or two of eligibility overseas. If this passes, they might not even get to play a full college season. That’s a problem because older, more experienced players are often at their best—but the NCAA’s new rule doesn’t care about skill, just age.Second, the act blocks any athlete who has ever earned professional pay from playing college sports. That means even if a player made a small salary in a foreign league, they’re out. Wade’s entire international recruiting strategy could collapse overnight. He might have to scrap his plans and start over, this time relying only on high school recruits or transfers who haven’t played professionally. The future of LSU’s roster now depends on a congressional hearing next week. If the act passes, Wade’s unusual approach to building a team could be over before it really starts.