The University of Wisconsin is no stranger to pushing the envelop in the classroom or around campus, but one of its basketball players is seeking to change the course of college athletics forever. On Thursday, CBS Sports reported that Hayes was one of two more current players to join a lawsuit brought by Martin Jenkins against the NCAA.
According to the report, Hayes is part of a suit that seeks to end NCAA rules that “prohibit, cap or otherwise limit remuneration and benefits.” In other words, these guys want to get P-A-I-D. However, they want to be the only ones that get paid, as this lawsuit is against the NCAA and the Power 5 conferences.
Furthermore, this lawsuit doesn’t seek to open up the market for all student-athletes but just for college football and basketball players. Forget hockey players, or any women…those people don’t deserve payment at all.
The Jenkins lawsuit also seeks to prevent the NCAA and the five conferences from creating rules that prevent schools from “negotiating, offering, or providing remuneration” to the players “in compensation for their services as athletes.”
As for the timing of the case? The Jenkins case is consolidated in California with the Shawne Alston cost-of-attendance suit. But the Jenkins case, has been trying to work on a faster track since it’s not seeking class-action damages.
Ironically, having a basketball player joining this suit could be the biggest backfire on it. See, there is a market that players who want to get paid can go to — just ask Brandon Jennings and Emanuel Muday. Sure, going overseas to play out of high school is a difficult option, but its there for those who want to earn money for their services before heading off to attempt the NBA.
Hayes being part of the suit adds an interesting dynamic to the upcoming season, as questions and distractions are bound to come of it.
No matter how this case is decided, Hayes will forever be a part of NCAA lore — either he’s part of the group that gets players paid or he is part of a group that fails to smash the amateurism rules.
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