The NCAA News Digest

September 29, 1997

• NCAA MEMBERSHIP SINCE 1952
• RECRUITING -- Cabinet seeks changes in basketball recruiting
• MARKETING -- Research to precede basketball marketing plan
• CONVENTION -- Second legislative publication mailed to Division II and III
• FINANCES -- Big Ten leads conferences in revenue distribution
• HONORS PROGRAM -- Nomination process underway for fall Today's Top VIII candidates

NCAA MEMBERSHIP SINCE 1952

NCAA active membership reached an all-time record this year with 933 member institutions. Membership also is at an all-time high in each of the three divisions. There are now 306 members in Division I, 254 in Division II and 373 in Division III for a total of 933 active members.

In Division I, the membership of Division I-A is at its highest level since members had to comply with new membership criteria in 1982. There are now 111 members in Division I-A, 120 in I-AA and 75 in I-AAA.

RECRUITING

The Division I Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet has approved the concept of a new recruiting model for Division I men's basketball.

The cabinet agreed to approve the concept of a model proposed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, with a few modifications.

The model would create eight regional camps conducted by USA Basketball over a period of three consecutive weekends in the spring.

The proposal also would restrict out-of-season evaluations by coaches to the USA Basketball camps, state high-school sanctioned all-star events, state high-school association sanctioned events designed for postseason evaluation of prospects and National Junior College Athletic Association sanctioned all-star events.

According to the NABC proposal, the new model would "alter the recruiting process away from the summer and increase the opportunity for high-school, junior college and college coaches to return to a more prominent position in the recruiting process of prospective student-athletes."

Staff contact: Shane Lyons.

MARKETING

Research to precede basketball marketing plan

The NCAA plans to conduct extensive research about college basketball before developing a strategic plan for marketing the sport.

The Business/Finance Cabinet, acting on a recommendation from the Basketball Marketing Subcommittee, agreed to retain a research firm by late October to gather data during the 1997-98 season in both men's and women's basketball.

Researchers will explore such matters as attendance, the public's image of college basketball, demographic issues and television ratings.

Staff contact: Dennis Cryder.

CONVENTION

Twenty-six proposals -- 19 in Division II and seven in Division III -- are included in the Second Publication of Proposed Legislation for the 1998 Convention in Atlanta.

The publication was mailed September 23 to the Divisions II and III membership.

Staff contact: Stephen A. Mallonee.

FINANCES

The Big Ten Conference received $13,230,010 from the NCAA Division I revenue-distribution plan in 1997, the most of any conference.

The figure represents money sent to Division I conferences through five revenue-distribution funds; a supplemental distribution; and the conference grant program.

The Atlantic Coast, Big Twelve, Pacific-10 and Big East Conferences followed the Big Ten.

HONORS PROGRAM

Nominations for fall sports candidates for the 1998 Honors Program must be received at the NCAA national office by November 1.

Nomination folders will be mailed September 29 to athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors at all member institutions.

The folders contain nomination forms for the 1998 Today's Top VIII and the Award of Valor. The awards will be presented at the honors dinner January 11, 1998, during the NCAA Convention in Atlanta.

Staff contact: James A. Marchiony.