Nba-entry rule sets up signings

A new NCAA rule led to a flurry of big-name men’s basketball players announcing earlier than ever they would stay in school and cleared the way for today’s start of the spring signing period for high school recruits.

But a loophole in that rule created by a different NBA deadline has allowed other top players — most notably on Kentucky’s national championship team — to wait as long as 18 more days before deciding.

The confusion has hurt some college players curious about their draft stock. The rule to move up the deadline to declare by about a month was intended to help high school players see how rosters would change and college coaches know who would be returning before the signing period.

“If you’re a lottery pick . . . it’s not that difficult to make a decision,” Indiana coach Tom Crean told USA TODAY Sports after the school announced Tuesday that center Cody Zeller and forward Christian Watford would return.

“But for everybody else . . . where do they fit? Do they fit in the first round, mid- to late? Late first round, early second? Are they draftable? Those are the type of things that are really hard to get (answered) in a short period of time.”

For elite high school players such as Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel, who are set to announce their college choices today, the new NCAA withdrawal deadline can help.

“I do want to play on a good team, so . . . I’m always going to look at who goes or who stays,” Muhammad told USA TODAY Sports.

Muhammad and Noel list Kentucky among their final choices. Wildcats stars such as national player of the year Anthony Davis haven’t declared for the draft yet, but coach John Calipari has said

he would recruit as though they were leaving.