According to a story in yesterday’s New York Times, the NCAA has passed legislation that tightens its requirements for high-school recruits from prep schools. The NCAA has been criticized in the past for its lax standards in accepting athletes with credits from so-called “diploma mills” that help students become eligible for college scholarships by questionable means.
The University of Memphis’ mens basketball coach John Calipari is wary of the changes.
From the story: “Calipari, whose team may be ranked No. 1 in the preseason next season, has a significant number of players on his roster who went to prep schools. He said that the N.C.A.A. should focus on shutting down illegitimate prep schools and not hurt those attending others. ‘If you have a problem with some of the prep schools, shut them down, do what you’ve got to do,’ Calipari said. ‘Why blow the whole thing up with a bazooka? I understand what their concern is, but I know that they’ve never discussed it with any of us.'”