NCAA gives spring athletes extra eligibility year; could do same for winter

The NCAA's council coordination committee agreed to grant eligibility relief to student-athletes who participated in spring sports, the governing body announced Friday.

The move will provide all Division I student-athletes who play spring sports an additional year of eligibility, affording graduating seniors the opportunity to return to school next season.

The committee will reportedly also explore whether or not the same measure is appropriate for winter student-athletes, according to The Athletic's Nicole Auerbach.

"Details of eligibility relief will be finalized at a later time," the committee said in a statement. "Additional issues with rules must be addressed, and appropriate governance bodies will work through those in the coming days and weeks."

All remaining winter and spring NCAA championships were canceled Thursday due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Shortly afterward, UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma called on the NCAA to grant senior athletes an additional year of eligibility due to the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the men's and women's March Madness tournaments.

"My feeling is this: It's an unprecedented event so you have to take unprecedented measures. ... In terms of each individual, I would be in favor of allowing all those that were seniors that have not had a chance to compete, not had a chance to play their spring season, that they should all be given another opportunity to play regardless of what that does to your scholarship count," Auriemma told ESPN's Rece Davis.

"The NCAA should foot the bill for that (extra year). ... It's a one-time exception. And what do you do about basketball? I guess if you have five seniors like we do and you say, 'Hey look, they all have the opportunity to come back.' Well, then you know what? If a kid wants to come back, God bless you, I'm all for it."

Seton Hall star Myles Powell hinted Friday at the possibility of returning for a fifth year should he be granted another season of eligibility.

The return of seniors like Powell could have a huge impact on teams' recruitment efforts.