Cal Basketball: Mark Madsen `Extremely Hopeful' Jaylon Tyson Gains Eligibility
Cal has begun the appeals process to gain eligibility for transfer forward Jaylon Tyson and coach Mark Madsen on Friday said he is “extremely hopeful” the NCAA will reverse its decision.
The Bears got word Thursday that Tyson, a 6-foot-7, 215-pound junior, had his immediate eligibility as a second-time transfer denied by the NCAA.
“We’re in the process of mounting a strong appeal,” said Madsen, the Bears’ first-year coach. “We’re very hopeful that on the appeal Jaylon Tyson will be cleared to play as a second-time transfer.”
Tyson spent his freshman season at Texas then played last year at Texas Tech, where he averaged 10.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and shot 40 percent from the 3-point arc in 31 games before entering the transfer portal for the second straight year.
Madsen describes Tyson’s versatile skillset in the video above.
At Texas in 2021-22, Tyson played a total of just 55 minutes over eight games, all of them during non-conference play.
The NCAA recently has reduced the number of second-transfer waivers it granted (just 18 percent as of Sept. 18, according to Jon Rothstein), but Tyson’s situation seems to warrant a hard second look.
Tyson, who is Black, explained to Sports Illustrated that he left Texas Tech after racially insensitive remarks by coach Mark Adams.
“Last year, I was racially discriminated against on multiple occasions. I was called a slave, and that Mark Adams was my master,” Tyson told Sports Illustrated. “When he said that I kind of froze and went down a dark path in my life that I had never [experienced] before. It was very embarrassing for me and my family to have to go through this process.”
Jeff Goodman of Stadium reported also that Adams was investigated for spitting on a player and told the player, “I can spit on you whenever I want to.”
Adams has since resigned his position at Texas Tech and is an assistant coach at East Carolina.
Cal forward Fardaws Aimaq, a teammate of Tyson at Texas Tech, shared these thoughts:
So, how could the NCAA deny Tyson’s appeal for immediate eligibility, based on these circumstances?
Here’s an except from a story from SI.com that provides valuable context:
A source close to Tyson indicated the denial stems from the timing with which he left Texas Tech. Adams resigned on March 9, but it wasn’t until April 16 that The Athletic first reported Tyson’s intent to enter the transfer portal. Two days before, former Texas Tech assistant Matt Scherbenske had reportedly taken a job on Cal’s staff. His hire was officially announced by the university on April 17. Tyson visited Cal the following weekend and committed on May 8 after also visiting Kansas and considering several other schools. According to the source, the NCAA used that timeline against Tyson in its decision, but Tyson says he had different reasons for waiting to enter the portal.
Even so Madsen, is confident the NCAA will rule in Tyson’s favor.
“I’ve looked at the waiver material — I’ve been looking at it for months — and I believe he has a very . . . I believe it’s extremely important for Jaylon Tyson to be granted this second waiver.
“Not only for himself, but for every other student-athlete who finds himself in a situation like this in the future.”
In the video above, Aimaq describes a player who will be elite for the Bears, when he becomes eligible.
“If we were to not have him, it would hurt us a lot,” Aimaq said. “But the plan is to have him.”
Cover photo of Cal basketball coach Mark Madsen
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
