NCAA clears Kevin Olekaibe transfer as father's health declines

The NCAA granted Kevin Olekaibe his hardship waiver application Monday, allowing him to transfer from Fresno State, to his hometown UNLV Rebels in wake of his father's worsening condition.

The NCAA normally requires players to sit out an entire season when transferring between Division I schools, but compassionate exceptions can be made to accommodate players in times of need.

Olekaibe's father suffered a stroke in 2008 while on business in Nigeria before enduring a second in 2009, and has been in hospice care since, as his condition continues to worsen.

"My dad's paralyzed," Ike Olekaibe, Kevin's brother, told ESPN.com. "He can't speak at all. He's in a vegetative state. We have to shave him. Who knows how much longer he's got?"

The former Fresno State guard applied for the hardship waiver back in September.

Olekaibe led the Bulldogs in scoring two years ago, averaging 17.8 points per game, but his totals dropped last season to a career-low 8.3 points per game.

The NCAA has recently granted players seeking similar compassion, including Trae Golden's move from Tennessee to Georgia Tech to be closer to his father, and Kerwin Okoro's transfer to Rutgers from Iowa State after the death of his father and brother.