(#463) A complete breakdown of Braxton Whitehead's commitment to Arizona State

Whitehead became the first CHL player to announce an NCAA commitment. Why is that significant? What makes this different from the Masterson lawsuit? And what's next.

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Headlines were made Friday when Braxton Whitehead announced his commitment to Arizona State.

If you only read Whitehead’s Tweet announcing his commitment, it would seem to be an ordinary commitment.

But it was anything but.

Whitehead plays for the Regina Pats in the WHL. He became the first CHL player to commit to an NCAA school. A few weeks ago, Rylan Masterson, a player from Ontario, filed a lawsuit alleging that the NCAA’s rule, which deems CHL players ineligible, violates U.S. antitrust law.

Here are some notes on the situation and why I think Whitehead’s commitment is a bigger needle-mover than the lawsuit itself.

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