UPDATE
Drew Peterson has reopened his recruitment but is not ruling out eventually signing with the Gophers.
After discussing with my family, I am reopening my recruitment. Minnesota is still very much a possibility for me. I hope everyone understands the importance of making such a big life choice during these unprecedented times. Please respect my decision.
— Drew Peterson (@Drewpeterson23) May 1, 2020
Original story
Next year’s Gopher men’s basketball team’s success could be determined by NCAA transfer rulings as Liam Robbins and Drew Peterson are hoping to be able to gain immediate eligibility after coming to the University of Minnesota from Drake and Rice, respectively.
The Transfer Waiver Working Group was created by the NCAA last fall to study the waiver process, and that group recommended that student-athletes from men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s hockey and football receive a one-time transfer waiver. The waiver would allow transfers to play right away rather than sit out a year.
But according to the NCAA, the Division I Board of Directors and Division I Presidential Forum met this week and concluded that the recommended waiver idea is “not appropriate at this time.”
However, as Michelle Brutlag Hosick writes, “Board members recommended the waiver process be sensitive to student-athlete well-being, especially those impacted by COVID-19 in the interim period.”
That leaves Robbins and Peterson hanging in the balance, still not sure if the NCAA will grant their waiver requests.
While Peterson was a do-it-all 6-foot-8 forward at Rice, Robbins is the big man the Gophers would love to see in action as All-American Daniel Oturu’s replacement next season.
Robbins, who is 7-feet tall, averaged 14.1 points, 71. rebounds and 2.9 blocks this past season. He was fifth in the nation with 99 blocks.
If the NCAA truly will be sensitive to transfer requests because of the coronavirus pandemic, then perhaps Robbins has a better chance of gaining eligibility immediately because part of the reason he chose Minnesota was to be closer to family, according to 247Sports.
Robbins’ uncle is Minnesota coach Richard Pitino’s association head coach, Ed Conroy, and his cousin, Hunt Conroy, also plays for the Gophers.
An official vote on the transfer waiver recommendation is expected to happen in May.
