Baylor women’s basketball coach Nicki Collen understands the letter of the law when it comes to NCAA transfer rules. But she still believes Dre’Una Edwards, who transferred from Kentucky, should be able to take the court this season.
“Do I think she deserves to play this year? Absolutely,” Collen told ESPN. “I have no problem saying that.”
The transfer to Baylor marked the second of Edwards’ college career. She started at Utah but moved to Kentucky after her freshman season, then flipped to Baylor in the most recent offseason.
As a result, the redshirt senior forward was not eligible to play for Baylor this season — unless Kentucky signed off on a “No Participation Opportunity Form.” Wildcats coach Kyra Elzy declined to sign.
The form states “that Dre’Una Edwards would not have had an opportunity to participate if she had stayed at Kentucky,” Elzy said in a statement. “That would not have been correct; Dre’Una would have had the opportunity to participate if she had stayed.”
While Collen said she understood the position of Elzy and Kentucky, she still expressed her disappointment.
“They have a right not to sign it,” she said. “It’s just discouraging when you see a kid do what she’s done,…
