Bandaogo applied for a mental health waiver as a second-time transfer.
theathletic.com
Pretty interesting. To me, it seems like the player is trying to abuse the mental health waiver.
"Bandaogo applied for a mental health waiver as a second-time transfer after spending his first two seasons at Akron and last season at Utah Valley, where he won WAC Defensive Player of the Year. His initial request for immediate eligibility was denied last month."
A bit later the article says "Bandaogo, a native of Senegal, transferred to Cincinnati in May after averaging 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.9 blocked shots for Utah Valley in 2022-23. The details of Bandaogo’s waiver are protected by a combination of FERPA and HIPAA laws, but those briefed on the case say that in addition to Bandaogo’s former head coach and multiple players departing Utah Valley this offseason, he also has a support system in Akron, Ohio, where he started his college career. “One of the main reasons I chose to attend Cincinnati was its closeness to my American family,” Bandaogo said in his statement. “When I chose Cincinnati, I counted on the NCAA to follow its own rules about transferring to the best school for my mental health. The NCAA let me down.”
To me, if he wanted to be closer to his family in Akron, he 1) wouldn't have left Akron to go to Utah Valley and 2) could have gone to one of the number of D-1 schools closer to Akron than Cincy- if he didn't want to return to Akron, and Ohio St. and Pitt weren't interested, off the top of my head he could have gone to Kent St, Youngstown St, Ohio, Cleveland St, John Carroll, Robert Morris, Duquesne, Toledo, or Bowling Green. By picking Cincy, it really seems like he just wanted to play in a high-major conference.