Report: Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas still not in the transfer portal, hires attorney

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Wisconsin freshman cornerback Xavier Lucas has still yet to officially enter the transfer portal.

This update arrives nearly two weeks after Lucas’ last public comments on the situation (Dec. 27): “I still intend to transfer,” Lucas wrote on X. “But at the moment Wisconsin is refusing to release me into the transfer portal.”

Related: Where Wisconsin football transfers have signed so far

Those comments arrived as the winter transfer window was closing — players had until Dec. 28 to officially enter, unless they played in a bowl game scheduled for after that date.

On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed on Wednesday that Lucas’ name has yet to officially appear. According to the cornerback, this is due to Wisconsin blocking him from entering. According to a BadgerExtra report from Dec. 27, Wisconsin believes Lucas must honor a deal he signed with the program in early December — just days before publicly announcing his intention to transfer.

To add complexity to an issue that still appears far from a resolution: Lucas has reportedly hired legal representation. On3’s Matt Shodell confirmed on Tuesday that Lucas has hired Darren Heitner, a well-known Florida-based attorney who specializes in sports law and name, image and likeness (NIL). Heitner is also an adjunct professor at the University of Miami where he teaches classes on the latter.

“I have contacted the NCAA demanding that it enforce its rules which require [Xavier] Lucas’ name to be entered into the transfer database,” Heitner wrote on X on Tuesday. “If Wisconsin doesn’t budge, then we will escalate this matter to litigation.”

There has been no public response from Wisconsin, nor any apparent resolution to Lucas’ desire to enter the portal. According to Heitner, litigation could soon…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/report-wisconsin-cornerback-xavier-lucas-001839906.html

Author : Badgers Wire

Publish date : 2025-01-09 00:18:00

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