College basketball insider slams NCAA over Joe Bamisile ruling
On Wednesday, it was announced that former Oklahoma guard Joe Bamisile was not granted a waiver to be immediately eligible to compete for VCU.
Because Bamisile is a multiple-time transfer, he required a waiver from the NCAA to be able to play during the 2023-24 season. Bamisile started his career at Virginia Tech in 2020-21, transferred to George Washington, transferred to Oklahoma and was hoping to play for VCU.
In an Instagram post, Bamisile explained that he is struggling with mental health and that his father is sick, and the best option for him was to transfer as close to home as possible, which was VCU.
ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas had some thoughts on the NCAA's decision to deny Bamisile's waiver.
"There is no legitimate reason to deny this transfer," Bilas said. "Bamisile lives eight miles from VCU. Does the NCAA believe his father is faking his illness and Bamisile is faking his mental health issues? The NCAA should not be in this business."
Bilas has reason to be furious with the NCAA. Earlier this year, when the NCAA clarified its transfer waiver guidelines, it laid out two specific circumstances that it would consider when granting waivers for immediate eligibility.
1. "A demonstrated physical injury or illness or mental health condition that necessitated the student's transfer (supporting documentation, care plans and proximity of the student's support system will be considered)"
2. "Exigent circumstances that clearly necessitate a student-athlete's immediate departure from the previous school (e.g., physical assault or abuse, sexual assault) unrelated to the student-athlete's athletics participation."
It appears that Bamisile's documented mental health struggles, his father's medical condition and VCU being the closest school to his home meet all of the criteria the NCAA requires for a waiver consideration.
This now begs the question: If someone with Bamisile's circumstances is not able to get a waiver, who can?
Last season, Bamisile averaged 4.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists with Oklahoma. His best year came in 2021-22 with GW, where he averaged 16.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists while being named to the Atlantic-10 All-Conference third team.
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