La Crosse native Kobe King still may have to sit out a year, as NCAA delays rule change

La Crosse native Kobe King won’t catch a break from the NCAA with its transfer rules.

King transferred from Wisconsin to Nebraska, and hopes to be granted a waiver and allowed to play basketball without sitting out a year.

The NCAA Board of Governors has recommended delaying a change to that transfer-waiver process, which would allow all athletes to switch schools one time without sitting out a season.

The NCAA did say Thursday a Division I council could still change the rule in May.

As of now, Division I athletes in football, baseball, men’s hockey and men’s and women’s basketball must sit out a season after transferring, unless they’re granted a special waiver.

Athletes in the other sports are allowed a one-time exception.

The idea to change that rule to all sports was put forth in February by a working group, and would have gone into effect immediately, but the COVID-19 pandemic then shut down all sports.