Transfer system has created a monster

It’s difficult to blame Michael Young, his son, Joe, or even Providence coach Keno Davis.

So, instead, I’m blaming the system and those who have opted to try to beat it — and have done so successfully.

Young is a former Phi Slama Jama member from the University of Houston glory days and also a coach on the Cougars' staff for the last decade. He has come out and crushed the Friars coach, calling him a “bad guy” after Davis and the school wouldn’t relent and allow Joe Young out of his National Letter of Intent.

Here’s the CliffsNotes version of the story:

Young, who averaged 27.5 points at Yates High this past season as a senior, took a visit and committed to Providence last fall against the wishes of his father, who admitted shortly thereafter that he was “trying to get this decision turned.”

Young and his father both inked the National Letter of Intent, but recently, after the elder Young was re-hired at the school by new coach James Dickey, they asked Providence to get out of the NLI.

The assertion was that Young wanted to be closer to his aunt, who played a role in raising him and is awaiting a heart transplant.

But Davis and the Providence administration didn’t buy it.

When Young did put his name on the letter of intent, he knew exactly what he was doing.

It’s a binding document, a key one in a system that has been put in place to avoid the potential chaos.

Sure, kids are commonly released following coaching changes, but Young’s son, Joe, committed and signed with Davis.

Davis is still the coach.

Davis and Providence both agreed to deny Young’s request, and the NCAA also denied the appeal earlier this week on the basis that it was not an immediate family member.

"I’m really disappointed and so is Joseph,” Michael Young told FOX 26 Sports. "The NLI system is crap.”

"Who are they to say who is an immediate family member?” Young added to FOXSports.com. "They don’t know my family.”

So now that leaves Joe Young in limbo.

Davis has taken the high road, telling FOXSports.com that he loves Joe Young as a player and a person and “wishes him the best.”

"I have nothing negative to say about him,” Davis said. "I don’t have any ill feelings for him at all. I hope he’s at Providence, and if he isn’t, I wish him well.”

"There’s no way he’ll ever play at Providence. Ever,” Michael Young told FOXSports.com. "He told us, ‘I don’t care who’s sick.’ That was a bad choice of words, and that statement right there killed any chance of him playing at Providence.”

I want to believe that Joe Young is doing this for the right reasons, to be close to his aunt — to be there for her on a daily basis and provide whatever support is needed.

But I’m skeptical.

It’s because of the past, watching virtually everyone and their mother attempt to receive a waiver in order to be able to transfer and play immediately over the last few years. The rash of transfer waivers began when Tyler Smith was allowed to go from Iowa back home to Tennessee in order to be closer to his dying father.

Elliot Williams transferred to Memphis from Duke after the 2008-09 season to be closer to his sick mother.

Elsa

Many have followed. Elliot Williams from Duke to Memphis, Will Harris from Virginia to Albany, D.J. Rivera from St. Joe’s to Binghamton.

Some were valid, but many utilized a family’s illness to get around the system.

Let’s face it, though.

If these kids really want to help a close family member, they should take the year off and truly help. As a college basketball player, between classes, practice, travel for games and schoolwork, there’s little time to tend to an ill family member.

So now Joe Young, who won’t be allowed to play anywhere this season by the NCAA (that includes junior college or prep school), will have all the time he needs to help take care of his aunt.

"We’re waiting for my sister to receive a heart,” Michael Young said. "Who cares if he misses the whole year?”

Obviously, Young and his family do — or they wouldn’t have fought through this in the first place.

Now, Young will choose a school in the next week or so where he will enroll and become a regular student for his freshman season.

That just may be what’s best for everyone.