Duke Deen is in the Portal

[yoda]

I think the laws of supply and demand will come into play.

With a bigger supply of capable players (due to extended eligibility), the demand for players will go down. I think also the overall interest in college sports may start to wane if eligibility gets extended indefinitely. College sports in the US are very popular due to people connection to the schools. Once you start really separating sports from the schools, then the sports become just another minor league.

I think it will trend towards the European systems- where the top tier are all well paid players.
The 2nd tier will be mid-majors that can pay some good players, then a 3rd and even a 4th tier with some DII’s joining the lower tiers.
Many schools will fail, some will drop sports.
Rules will change constantly but fans will some day dry up just like they’re doing on overpaid pro tennis, men’s pro soccer in the US, and even MLB.

[yoda]

New lawsuit against NCAA - https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/ne...a-eligibility/

this might affect Duke Deen since this guy was denied the extra year for juco because, like Deen, it was in 2020 - the Covid year - but the guy is now suing to get that extra year back.
Unfortunately, it might not get decided soon enough to help Duke.

a second similar lawsuit may also help Duke - https://www.sportico.com/law/analysi...ng-1234850190/

[Jim]

Duke actually did sign a professional contract with the German pro team, the Freeport Skyliners. However he did not play in any games and left and returned to the United States.

Do you have any details relating to Duke's experiences with the Freeport Skyliners?

[Da Coach]

All we know is that he went to Frankfurt, Germany, to join the Fraport Skyliners for their last few games of the 2024-25 season. They are not going to qualify for postseason playoffs in their BBL league (they are 16th in a 17-team league), so their season will end with their final game May 11. He was with the team for 2 games, but did not play. There was something that caused him to leave abruptly and return to the US. There is no word whether it was a personal or family issue, or an issue related to his team or contract.

[yoda]

Perhaps he became aware that he still might qualify for an extra year via an upcoming NCAA ruling but playing professionally could void that