Butler Guard Transfers to JMU
So apparently Everett Withers and the football team aren’t the only ones pulling in transfers from bigger schools this year. Matt Brady managed to land Butler Guard Devontae Morgan this week. Morgan certainly didn’t play much (think walk-on minutes) for the Bulldogs the last two years, but he was a Brad Stevens recruit and we’d say that speaks well of him in addition to the fact he’ll have a year to develop his game while sitting out and then still have two years of remaining eligibility. In any case, it’s another decent addition to a quietly encouraging offseason after the sting of losing Charles Cooke.
Secondly, on a personal note, I have accepted a new job in Greensboro, NC, and have been busy getting started and moving so we’ve been a bit sporadic, but with the World Cup cranking up next week, we’ll be all over place on Twitter and FB. Also, the move still doesn’t convince us there’s anything even remotely resembling a silver lining about a conference with Elon in it.
This may be a stupid question, but if he played two years at Butler, and then has to sit out this year, how will he still have two years of eligibility left?
I was confused by that same thing regarding Charles Cooke, who also reportedly will have 2 years of eligibility remaining after sitting out this upcoming year. From what I’ve read about NCAA regulations, students transferring from a 4 year school to another 4 year school need to spend one year in academic residence (attending classes, earning enough credits, and staying eligible) prior to playing for their new school. I can’t find anything stating that the first year spent in academic residence counts against eligibility.
Athletes get 4yrs eligibility and must use it within 5yrs (unless they get special consideration and waiver, aka: the Semenov ruling). If an athlete transfers to another school at the same level of competition, e.g., D-I to D-I, then that athlete must sit out one year of competition as Rob stated above. That year sitting out does not count toward the 4 original years of eligibility. Happens all the time in every sport.
This is a great signing by Brady. Morgan is the same body type as Cooke and plays the same position. I don’t care that he didn’t see much time for Butler. Morgan was a 2 star recruit out of high school in Florida, and he spent two years in a program and conference far superior to JMU right now. He will bring some good experience, and when he is eligible to play in 2015-2016 he will most certainly be a big contributor. Last year was a down year for a young team at JMU. There is still a good group of core players in the program and some real talent coming in. Morgan only adds to that talent. I am very hopeful for some basketball at JMU. It’s time for the men to catch up to the women’s program.
Ah, got it. So it’s the guys that redshirt as freshmen that end up losing that year of eligibility when they have to sit out after a transfer.
Welcome to NC! I moved down to Raleigh from Dc last year and I love it… Convinced my sis and brother in law to move down too so they’re living in Greensboro. It’s a nice place. We need to link up with the alumni chapter down here for some good NC brew and JMU talk