Hey basketball fans, it's your college hoops insider here on this beautiful Saturday morning in June. The offseason is heating up, and there's plenty to talk about in the world of NCAA basketball.
The biggest news this week has been the final approval of the House settlement, which is completely transforming college athletics. As of yesterday, schools are now officially permitted to pay their athletes directly, marking the dawn of a new era in college sports. To make this happen, the NCAA had to eliminate a whopping 153 rules. Starting July 1, Division I schools can distribute direct payments to athletes from a pool representing 22% of their funds for the 2025-26 academic year.
Speaking of changes, the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee has proposed several significant modifications for the upcoming 2025-26 season. They're exploring a coach's challenge system similar to what the NBA has used since 2019, and they're considering switching from halves to quarters, which would align college basketball with the NBA, women's college basketball, and international leagues.
The committee is also looking to loosen restrictions on player continuation. This would allow players who end their dribble going toward the basket and absorb contact to pivot or complete their step and finish their shot attempt. The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will review these recommendations on June 10.
In recruiting news, we can finally close the book on the 2025 men's basketball recruiting class rankings. Duke secured the top spot, followed by Houston, Arkansas, and Arizona. Tommy Lloyd's Arizona Wildcats made a late surge by adding five-star prospects Koa Peat and Brayden Burries within a two-week span. Both players are expected to start immediately and should keep Arizona in the national top 15.
Perhaps the biggest recruiting coup this spring came when top-five prospect Nate Ament committed to Rick Barnes and Tennessee on Easter Sunday. The 6-foot-9 wing could be the best long-term prospect in the entire class.
In coaching news, BYU has signed Kevin Young to a contract extension after just his first year at the helm. Meanwhile, St. John's coach Rick Pitino made it clear he's "absolutely not" interested in returning to coach the New York Knicks following Tom Thibodeau's firing, despite having led the team from 1987 to 1989.
On the conference realignment front, Utah Valley will join the Big West Conference for the 2026-27 athletic year, giving the league a presence in Utah for the first time since Utah State's departure in 2005.
As college coaches hit the road to scout high school prospects, we're turning the page to a new chapter in college basketball history—one where players will finally share in the financial success of the sport. Stay tuned, folks. The game is changing before our eyes.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
