The buzz on Antonio Reeves

Submitted by ish on June 14th, 2023 at 2:02 PM

Last night Davis Mosely, the new basketball insider for 247, held whatever Twitter calls it when you can listen to a live audio conversation. He said two interesting things that I haven't seen discussed. 

First, while Mosely didn't say so explicitly, he strongly implied that if Reeves enters the portal he intends to transfer to Michigan.

Second, he said that Kentucky is holding things up by threatening to somehow block Reeves using an NCAA rule that may or may not apply, or might not even exist. Recall that Reeves began his career at Illinois State before transferring to Kentucky. Putting Michigan admissions shenanigans aside, that means that Reeves would need a waiver to be immediately eligible at Michigan unless he comes in as a grad transfer. That's Reeves' plan, except that he reportedly will take his last few credits at Illinois State and graduate from there.

This is where things get tricky. Davis said that Kentucky told Reeves he can't do so--that the NCAA wouldn't allow Reeves to go back to ISU, not be on the ISU roster, yet transfer from ISU to Michigan. But it doesn't seem that anyone has attempted this move, so it's not clear whether it's allowed despite there being no clear NCAA prohibition. Nor is it clear whether Kentucky is just giving Reeves advice or threatening to seek action from the NCAA, either in the hopes of persuading Reeves to stay.

Last, to the extent that Reeves' status is unclear for much longer, it would put Michigan in a pickle--wait to see if Reeves is cleared or take another player without comparable problems. Plus, to the extent that the NCAA drags its feet (if it actually has any say), Reeves wouldn't be able to practice with the team while Michigan waits for the NCAA to determine his status.

I assume that Reeves could ask the NCAA for guidance in advance, but someone who knows NCAA rules better than I do will have to answer that. 

Stay tuned, I suppose, in the latest bizarre twist in Michigan's attempt to field a competitive basketball team.

 

goblu330

June 14th, 2023 at 4:20 PM ^

OT from the original post.  I am on a re-watch of Better Call Saul.  On a second watch, it becomes very apparent how brutally poorly paced the final season of the show is.  Too bad.  If the show had ended 5 episodes earlier, I actually think it would have been the best television show of all time.  All of the wait to find out about "Gene" and it ends up coming close to ruining the show.  It does not ruin the show, mind you, but it does come close.

goblu330

June 14th, 2023 at 8:10 PM ^

The thing about the last episodes of Better Call Saul is that up to the flash forwards it was the best TV I’ve ever seen.  I got the feeling they didn’t even want to have to deal with the flash forwards but they had to and didn’t know what to do with it.

Skiptoomylou22

June 14th, 2023 at 4:37 PM ^

I'd agree with this. Though they're (Davis) saying the two wouldn't really step on each other's toes play wise and rather complement each other, which is being pitched to them both. I'm not incredibly in the loop on either's film but I do know adding Mulcahy to the bunch we already have would make a pretty wild defensive squad. 

Denarded

June 14th, 2023 at 2:13 PM ^

The NCAA needs to pass the 'one-time free transfer' rule and 'second-time transfer sit-out 1 year' rule because this is getting so ridiculous. Transfer, to not transfer, to blocking a transfer, to hopefully he gets in the portal because if he does transfer, he'll transfer here, transfer. Guy on his 5th school in 4 years because he can never win a job and its never been his fault, so he'll totally win the job this time transfer. Not getting my hopes up though. 

Qmatic

June 14th, 2023 at 4:05 PM ^

The portal has killed college basketball in record time. You know what was best of the 2013, 18, and to a large extent the 2021 teams were we got to see those kids grow through the program.

We got to see players like Burke go from really good to NPOY. Jordan Morgan, Tim Hardaway Jr. 2018 we saw the growth of Simpson, MAAR and Wagner; the latter who went from barely used as a freshman to a stone cold beast in 2018. 2021 there was Brooks, Livers, Wagner, and Johns’ growth. In 2018 we did have the help of 2 transfers (D-Rob and Matthews) but both of those sat out a year and we got 3 and 2 years out of them. 2021 was a little different because both Smith and Chaundee were one year guys, but there were still a lot of familiar faces.

We won’t see that anymore in this landscape. NIL and the Portal just has killed a lot of what made college basketball great.

Denarded

June 14th, 2023 at 4:31 PM ^

And yet I'm getting negged for advocating for that sentiment as well. Forgive me for wanting guys to be more like Kobe Bryant instead of Journeyman Jeff Green. I'm all for a one-time free transfer, but college guys getting more freedom than the actual professionals? Nah, that is hard to get on board every year trying to cheer for a bunch of mercenaries. 

LeCheezus

June 15th, 2023 at 2:46 PM ^

I just don't get this sentiment that the NBA is so terrible, a view that seems to be fairly common around here.  Especially coming from anyone that likes college basketball, where seems the vast majority of the games are slogs where one team or the other (or both) routinely go 5+ minutes without a field goal.  I guess scoring is bad, under the guise of "playing defense"?  I'll grant that defense in the NBA can be a bit questionable for stretches of the regular season, but the defense is definitely there during the playoffs.

maizedNblued

June 14th, 2023 at 9:36 PM ^

Technically - the rule is called a "one-time transfer exception" and has parameters set forth around it however players have been able to transfer multiple times without sitting because of Legislative Relief Waivers due to a whole list of things i.e. the run-off rule, discontinuation of sport, mental health, financial hardship, loss of family, C19...the list goes on and on....as long as the player can prove any of those and is in good academic standing, most cases are approved by the NCAA.

In D1 football, the NCAA has passed a one-time use of the transfer portal and is disallowing a second use of the transfer portal unless under severe mitigating circumstances, meaning many of the waivers will no longer be approved. Stay tuned.

JacquesStrappe

June 14th, 2023 at 7:46 PM ^

The NCAA had better reform or cease to exist. Given all of the shenanigans with NIL turning into more of a bribery and graft show why have any rules at all and at least be honest about. What are they afraid of? That somehow an improper transfer would impugn the academic integrity of these august education institutions or that of the right and honorable NCAA. That ship sailed a long time ago. 

Naked Bootlegger

June 14th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^

Yeah, I'm not buying the Kentucky higher moral ground here.    That bastion of amateurism that stands firmly on the pillar of recruiting hoops signees that promise to be student athletes for 4 to 5 years can stick this firmly where the sun doesn't shine.   

Just let him go without complications and bring in your next 1 and done or mega transfer, Coach Cal.  

Seth

June 14th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^

I don't get why these schools are so intent on holding onto players who want to leave. It also annoys me that any other school besides Michigan can't be affected by these vindictive twats at UK or UNC because they're not hung up on whether the previous school will give them a degree. I'd make sure players know when they're being recruited that certain schools will do all they can to limit your ability to make the best decision for yourself down the line, however.

bronxblue

June 14th, 2023 at 3:41 PM ^

It would help immensely if UM could just get on the same track as seemingly every other major school in the country and have some realistic credit transfer process.  I get that there are going to be differences between courses between schools but most of them are taught with largely the same course material covering the same topics - physics in Lexington is the same in Ann Arbor - and so having a system where 85-90% of your credits transfer through makes way more sense than the current one, which seemingly treats most courses as bespoke to the University and non-transferable from any other institution.

Also, nothing shocks me about UK and UNC being petty assholes about other athletes.  Especially Calipari, who may be on a bit of a hot seat at UK given how mediocre his postseason performance has been recently and the amount of turnover he's experienced.