Pitt forward Cameron Johnson is transferring. That much is certain.
To which school is still up in the air, as is when he’ll actually be eligible to play, and that’s all thanks to the University of Pittsburgh, their athletic department, and head coach Kevin Stallings. Johnson graduated in three years, ostensibly completing the most important part of the NCAA’s mission for student-athletes.
And yet, having done so, Johnson is still being told he’s not free to transfer and play right away at his preferred destination, the University of North Carolina.
Johnson has had enough of this ongoing dispute, and he released an official statement on the matter:
Here is that letter from Cameron Johnson, in which he makes his case for a full release from University of Pittsburgh: pic.twitter.com/5tZSgA2aBC
— Andrew Carter (@_andrewcarter) June 6, 2017
The key points Johnson raises are all valid. His original coach and athletic director have left the school since his career began, and they weren’t forced to sit out at all, nor were they restricted from going to their desired destinations. The same can be said about new coach Kevin Stallings. Pitt’s policy is also seemingly against the NCAA’s rules for graduate transfers, as they’re attempting to prevent Johnson from playing right away, which it looks like they can’t actually do.
At some point it seems likely that Pitt will relent and allow Johnson to make the transfer, because there’s no winning the PR battle, even when so many people are surprisingly quick to come to the side of the school in situations like these. Johnson’s graduation, along with the Pitt turmoil, make mounting a defense in the court of public opinion a longshot for Pitt.
If they continue to attempt their current strategy, though, it’ll be fascinating; Johnson would seemingly have grounds for legal action, and any time a case like this goes to court, there’s a chance for legal rulings that could shake up the entire structure of college athletics.
So, uh, stay tuned.
