NCAA announces major men's basketball recruiting changes

Posting on a high schooler's facebook wall? Not okay. Sending them a private message? Go for it.

The NCAA today announced a set of changes to the recruiting guidelines that basketball coaches must follow when courting high school prospects. The rule changes essentially opened up many restricted lines of communication — including social networks — for the basketball coaches. Now coaches will be able to "send unlimited phone calls and text messages to men’s basketball recruits. The deregulation extends to social media, starting June 15 after a recruit’s sophomore year," according to the NCAA's release.

Private messages on social media sites are also now allowed, while public ones will be banned so that recruiting efforts remain a private matter for institutions.

Outside of communication, the NCAA will once again allow coaches to recruit players for two weeekends in April at non-scholastic events, limiting summer recruiting to three four-day July periods.

@Pennbasketball was happy to see the NCAA make its changes:

Other changes enacted, according to the NCAA website, include:

A start date for official visits beginning January 1 of the junior year, with schools able to pay travel expenses for the prospect and a parent/guardian.

Permitting some contact at a prospect’s educational institution during the junior year in conjunction with an evaluation, with some restrictions and requirements.

The July period will be limited to three four-day periods beginning Wednesday at 5 p.m. and ending Sunday at 5 p.m.

The April period will be limited to certified events that begin after 6 p.m. on Friday and end before 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Permitting staged, on-campus evaluations in conjunction with official visits, though further details will be considered.