Understanding NCAA Division 2 basketball transfer rules

I'm a student-athlete considering transferring to an NCAA Division 2 school for basketball. What are the transfer rules or requirements I need to be aware of? Is there anything unique about transferring to Division 2?

NCAA transfer rules can be a bit complex, so here's a high-level overview:

1. Eligibility to Compete: The Division II eligibility requirements state that you need to be in good academic standing at the institution you are transferring from and be academically eligible to compete at a Division II school. After transferring, you have to sit out of competition for one year, unless you're granted a waiver.

2. Permission to Contact: Before an NCAA member school can discuss a potential transfer with you, they must have written or electronic permission from your current institution, in a process referred to as the "permission-to-contact" rule.

3. One-Time Transfer Exception: As of 2021, the NCAA has modified the one-time transfer exception to allow athletes in all sports to transfer once and be immediately eligible to compete.

Unique to Division II athletics, there are different requirements for transferring from a two-year institution and a four-year institution:

- A two-year institution transfer student-athlete is eligible for competition if they have received an associate degree prior to transferring to a Division II school.

- When transferring from a four-year institution, the athlete must serve one academic year in residence before they can compete at the Division II school unless they qualify for a transfer exception or waiver.

Remember, your current school's athletic department and the athletic department at the school you're looking to transfer to can provide the most accurate information.