A college basketball player has filed suit against the NCAA, asking a California judge to block the NCAA from enforcing a rule he claims has wrongly denied him the ability to transfer to the University of San Francisco, which he says would allow him to better care for his mental and physical health.
Robert Beasley recently transferred from the University of California at Davis to the University of San Francisco, according to the lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court. The move allowed Beasley "to obtain specialized and necessary medical care to treat an acute injury and chronic condition, and to otherwise be closer to his family while dealing with a myriad of personal tragedies; including Covid-related deaths and hospitalizations of several close family members and the recent murder of his 16-year-old cousin," the suit states.
Under NCAA policies Beasley allegedly should have been granted immediately eligibility to play basketball at the University of San Francisco, as his transfer was necessary for medical treatment and due to exigent circumstances beyond his control that adversely affected his mental health and physical well-being," the lawsuit states.
In January, however, the NCAA tightened its transfer rules, the lawsuit states. Beasley "was precluded from requesting a waiver, and could not participate directly in the process," the complaint says. Instead, USF requested the transfer, submitting medical records and other documents.
"In violation of its own restrictive policies, the NCAA imposed a one-year ban on Plaintiff, which prohibits him from playing in any Division 1 collegiate basketball game for the 2023-2024 season; his final year of college," the lawsuit states.
It seeks a court order "permanently enjoining defendant NCAA from maintaining that Plaintiff is ineligible to compete."
Beasley is represented by attorney Dawn Ceizler, of the Law Offices of Dawn Ceizler, of Concord.
Beasley v. National Collegiate Association, San Francisco Superior Court, CGC-23-610573