USF hoops update

[smazza]

USF Hoops To Benefit From Scholarship Change

By GREGG BECNEL Tribune correspondent

Published: May 1, 2004

TAMPA - With the NCAA eliminating the ``5-8'' rule, which allowed a school to award five basketball scholarships in one year or a maximum eight in a two-year period, South Florida could add another player before the late signing period ends May 19.

USF has signed five recruits, but has only 12 scholarship players on its roster.

``Without that rule, it allows us to sign one more player this year to get to the maximum 13,'' Bulls assistant Steve Henson said. ``Whether we do or not is yet to be seen.''

With the rescission of the rule, the Bulls will benefit next season when they lose five seniors - Marlyn Bryant, Brandon Brigman, Terrence Leather, Bradley Mosley and Brian Swift.

Under the old rule, because USF signed five players this year, it would only be able to sign three next year, leaving the Bulls with only 10 scholarship players for the 2005-06 season - their first in the Big East.

``That's when the decision [to eliminate the rule] will help us the most,'' Henson said.

[Velcro]

Thanks Smazz, good article...   we'll definitely benefit next year from the rule being removed.