Do I have college eligibility if I went to play another sport besides basketball? — LeBron James sends Internet in a frenzy by posing compelling question

What Happened

• LeBron James tweeted a question while watching college football: “Do I have eligibility if I went to play another sport besides basketball? How does that rule work?”

• The tweet sparked discussion online about college eligibility rules, especially for athletes known mainly for one sport but interested in another.

What Rules Say

• Because LeBron finished high school, he can enroll in college, which is one requirement for college sports participation.

• There are real precedents. For example, JR Smith finished high school and later played collegiate golf. This suggests switching to another sport in college is possible, under NCAA or relevant governing body rules, depending on the sport and eligibility requirements.

  

Key Considerations

• Age, prior professional experience, and whether the athlete has already used up eligibility in another sport often affect eligibility.

• Even if someone played one sport professionally (or a high level), college eligibility in another sport might be allowed depending on rules of the sport’s college governing body, amateur status, or prior compensation.

• Also, different sports (football, basketball, track, etc.) may have different governing bodies or NCAA/NAIA subdivisions with varied rules.