Big Ten adopts rule preventing basketball players from returning after leaving for pros

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — The Big Ten Conference has adopted a rule to prohibit men's and women's basketball players who left school to play professionally from maintaining their eligibility.

The Big Ten announced Monday the unanimous adoption of a rule deeming players who signed professional contracts with the NBA, G-League or WNBA as ineligible to play for any of the conference's schools. The rule also covers players who declared for the NBA or WNBA drafts but did not withdraw their names or declare an intent to return to college in the required timeframe.

The conference's announcement comes as waves of student-athletes have filed lawsuits against the NCAA's new eligibility rules allowing five years of competition over a five-year period. The new rules did not grandfather in athletes from the high school class of 2022, triggering lawsuits across the country.

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