Three church league games cost NCAA athlete one year of eligibility

Nathan Harries called it “an old man’s league” but the NCAA had other thoughts. The ruling body of college sports took away a year of eligibility from Nathan for ‘playing in an organized basketball league.”

Harries is a Mormon who went to serve his two year mission right out of high school.

Then near the end of the mission he played in three Dunwoody Baptist Church league games before he packed up and headed to Colgate University.

That’s where big brother comes in.

NCAA rules are very clear in saying a player who doesn’t enroll in college immediately after graduation will be penalized one year for each academic year they participate in organized hoops.

The rule was originally put into action to keep players from honing their game before they reach school.

On the surface that sounds dumb since players are supposed to try to improve everyday whether it’s in a league or their driveway.

Harries and his father are appealing by claiming the league was recreational and not developmental.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the NCAA found out about the league when Nathan wrote about it in a questionnaire he filled out before his freshman year started.

Colgate filed for a waiver first, it was quickly turned down by the NCAA leading to a full blown appeal.

The family hopes cooler heads will prevail.