BREAKING: NCAA suspends Yoeli Childs for the first 9 games the season of due to paperwork issue

BYU announced that the NCAA has suspended Yoeli Childs for the first 9 games of the 2019-2020 season. The suspension is due to his signing with an agent before filing the required NCAA paperwork.

Tom Holmoe gave this statement: “Amid the confusion of the NCAA allowing student athletes to sign with agents and still return to school, Yoeli was caught in the transition of a changing landscape. We are disappointed with the NCAA’s decision to withhold nine games of his senior season.”

Yoeli got caught in an unfortunate rule transition where there wasn’t much clarity. This was the first year that potential NBA Draft prospects were able to hire agents without losing eligibility; Yoeli took advantage of this rule, and received permitted money for training and travel expenses. Once Yoeli decided he was coming back to BYU, he paid back all of this money — PLUS INTEREST — but the NCAA still decided to suspend Yoeli over a technicality. The money Yoeli took was within the rules, but the NCAA decided to suspend Yoeli because he signed with an agent before filing the necessary paperwork. BYU self-reported just as they did with Nick Emery, but got dinged again for being honest and forthcoming.

Below is the full release.