NCAA source: Marvin Bagley’s reclassification attempt is ‘pretty late in the process’

Marvin Bagley III‘s attempt to reclassify to 2017 from 2018 is coming “pretty late in the process,” an NCAA source told ZAGSBLOG Friday.

“It’s not going to be a quick deal,” the source said, speaking generally about reclassification. “This kid’s been high-profile for a while and most likely this evaluation is going to take some time just because he’s moved around and he hasn’t even gone through an amateurism certification yet.”

The 6-foot-11 Bagley is the No. 1-ranked prospect in the Class of 2018. He’s currently at Sierra Canyon (CA) High School after transferring from Hillcrest Prep (AZ), which the NCAA previously looked into.

“How talented he is doesn’t matter at all,” the NCAA source said. “If he’s got the right credentials as far as academics and he can pass through the amateurism process in time to get on campus that’s all that’s going to matter. But he will have to jump through some hoops for it to happen at this time of year.”

Bagley has taken initial steps to reclassify, sources told ZAGSBLOG.

“There may have been some sort of transcript upload from his schools that he’s attended,” the NCAA source said, again speaking generally without knowledge of Bagley’s specific case. “There may recently have been some transcripts that were sent in but there’s no real process to reclassify.

“Anyone who reclassifies wouldn’t need to submit ‘paperwork,'” the source added. “They would simply need to have a member institution place them on their IRL (Institutional Request List) and request a certification. As long as all the requested criteria is met, they may be certified.”

Asked if the NCAA would officially confirm Bagley’s desire to reclass, the source said, “They probably won’t tell you.”

Bagley has now taken officials to Duke and USC with trips to Arizona (Aug. 2) and UCLA (Aug. 10) coming up, as first reported by ZAGSBLOG. Bagley also hopes to visit Kentucky and Kansas, his father said at the Peach Jam.

Marvin Bagley all in his reverse flow ? @MB3FIVE @PhxPhamily #2017PeachJam pic.twitter.com/IrzVmAaATd

— Overtime (@overtime) July 13, 2017

Asked at the Peach Jam about possible reclassification, Marvin Bagley Jr., the player’s father, told FanRagSports.com: “Hey, ask the guy who started the rumor, they know more than what I can tell you.”

If Bagley, a rising senior at Sierra Canyon (Calif.) High School who has been compared to a young Amare’ Stoudemire, were to reclassify into 2017, he would be eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft, where he could potentially challenge incoming Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., incoming Arizona freshman DeAndre Ayton and incoming Texas freshman Mohamed Bamba for the No. 1 pick in 2018.