The possibility that Kentucky sophomore guard Stacey Poole will transfer seemed to increase Wednesday night when he sat out the team’s exhibition contest against Transylvania.
If Poole were to play in an exhibition game it would count as playing a full year of college basketball, so if he transferred he would lose this year of eligibility.
Under NCAA rules, and specifically Bylaw 14.2.3.1.3, freshman student-athletes are allowed to participate in preseason exhibition contests and still preserve the entire year of eligibility. The Bylaw, however, does not provide the same exception for returning student-athletes in their sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Remember that Notre Dame forward Tim Abromaitis must sit the first four games of the regular season after playing in two exhibition games during the 2008-09 campaign. He later sat out the entire season and was granted a fifth year.
Stacey Poole Sr., who starred at Florida in the early 90s, told the Lexington Herald-Leader “no decision has been made” on his son’s plans.
“I’m initiating everything,” he told the paper. “At the end of the day, I’ll make the call.”
