Syracuse Basketball: Alan Griffin has an excellent chance to play this fall

Another traditional transfer getting a waiver bodes well for incoming Syracuse basketball recruit Alan Griffin.

Syracuse basketball commit Alan Griffin, assuming he applies for a waiver to officially compete in the 2020-21 campaign, and the season actually occurs amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, stands a great shot of landing such a waiver from the NCAA.

The 6-foot-5 wing, a talented sophomore transfer from Illinois, is from Ossining, N.Y., which is about four hours from the Orange campus. If he asks the NCAA for a waiver to immediately play, and all or part of his argument is that Griffin wants to attend a university much closer to his Empire State hometown given the pandemic, well, now he’s got some precedent to receive a waiver.

Earlier this week, wing Johnny Juzang, who transferred from Kentucky to UCLA, got a waiver. Per a tweet from CBS Sports columnist and TV analyst Gary Parrish, “My understanding is that Johnny Juzang argued he transferred to UCLA because he wanted to be home in LA with family during a pandemic. Waiver approved. So I’d say that’s a good sign for anybody also transferring home – but that it likely doesn’t mean much for those who aren’t.”

It’s certainly possible that Juzang’s home in Los Angeles is closer to the UCLA campus than Griffin’s home is to the ‘Cuse campus, but that shouldn’t matter all that much.

There’s a devastating pandemic ravaging our country, and the world, and if Griffin is hoping to study and play basketball near his hometown, then the NCAA should do what it did for Juzang and provide Griffin with a waiver.

Syracuse basketball commit Alan Griffin is transferring closer to home and should obtain an NCAA waiver.

I don’t have a crystal ball, and I’m not clairvoyant, but my gut tells me that with Juzang getting a waiver, that paves the way for many traditional transfers including Griffin to also secure one. Frankly, at this juncture, it wouldn’t prove fair for Juzang to have his waiver, and others like Griffin to get denied.

Then again, since we’re talking about the NCAA here, who knows what will transpire. This organization does a ton of things without rhyme or reason, and without much common sense.

Hopefully, as it pertains to Griffin and fellow “sit-out” transfers seeking to suit up in a few short months at colleges and universities closer to their respective homes, waivers will come. The NCAA will do the right thing. Common sense will prevail.

And as a result, Griffin, a top-10 traditional transfer in the current cycle according to multiple media outlets, will help fill a critical void in the Syracuse line-up left by future pro and former Orange stud Elijah Hughes.