Erickson Granted NCAA Eligibility Extension Waiver
May 23, 2016 | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Omaha senior guard Kyler Erickson has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA to play in 2016-17, it was announced Monday. The waiver was granted after the University of Nebraska Omaha submitted a request for an extension of eligibility beyond Erickson's five-year window.
"I'm incredibly excited for another year of giving my all to this university and the Omaha basketball program," Erickson said. "I'm very grateful for all the fans, coaches, friends and family who have gotten me to this point and the efforts of everyone involved with the waiver application process."
Erickson began his collegiate career at Northwest Missouri State, redshirting in 2011-12 before playing the 2012-13 season. Upon transferring to UNO, he sat out the 2013-14 season in compliance with the NCAA's one-year residency requirement for transfers. Erickson then played in 2014-15 and 2015-16 for the Mavericks, moving into a starting role in the middle of the latter season.
As a senior at Millard South High School, Erickson had witnessed a shooting in his school's administration office on Jan. 5, 2011. Nearly a year and a half later, he suffered the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and since undergoing successful treatment, he has become a vocal advocate encouraging others to seek assistance for mental health issues. Erickson runs a website, KylerErickson.com, that details his story, and his videos have garnered widespread attention with over 120,000 views in 114 countries. Erickson's message of "turning tragedy into testimony" encourages people in all walks of life to confront mental health challenges they may be facing.
"We're pleased the NCAA has granted Kyler an extension of eligibility understanding his unique story," Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Brian Carey said. "He is a student-athlete of fine character, a contributor on and off the court and a difference-maker for a lot of people in our community. This waiver is the result of hard work by the coaches and staff at both Omaha and Northwest Missouri State, as well as the Summit League, who all felt Kyler deserved one more season of basketball.”
"We felt this was a rare situation and that Kyler lost the opportunity to participate in a season of college basketball due to circumstances beyond his control. Fortunately, NCAA staff members agreed and recognized the value that Kyler brings as a student-athlete overcoming mental illness.”
