According to a report from the website AreaCodesBasketball.com, Providence sophomore Bryce Cotton has asked for his release to transfer out of the program.
The problem?
According to Providence head coach Ed Cooley, “It’s all speculation” at this point, although the school declined to comment on whether or not Cotton had asked for his release.
If Cotton does end up leaving, it would be a massive loss for the Friars. The sophomore led the conference by averaging 38.6 minutes while also scoring 14.3 points and handing out 2.5 assists. With Gerard Coleman and Bilal Dixon also transferring, Providence would lose three of the top six scorers from a team that lacked depth this year.
That’s not exactly the way to rebuild a program.
But the question is whether or not Cotton has actually asked for his release.
If he has, Cooley would be right to grant Cotton his release. The way the current system is built is unfair to the players. While coaches are free to come and go as they please, the players that work for free and earn their coaches their massive contracts have to jump through hoops if they actually want to leave their school. This issue made headlines back in December when Todd O’Brien was barred from transferring to UAB from St. Joe’s, thus costing the player his final year of eligibility.
Coaches wield too much power in these situations. It’s a rule that the NCAA has to look into changing. If Cotton wants to leave, Cooley needs to do the right thing and let him.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.