Dick Vitale says Kentucky has submitted a waiver for Olivier Sarr

Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The ball is in the NCAA’s court regarding Olivier Sarr’s eligibility for the 2020-21 season.

While it’s expected that Kentucky applied for a waiver for Sarr not long after he signed on the dotted line in May, ESPN’s Dick Vitale publicly confirmed the waiver submission following a phone call with John Calipari this evening.

“[John Calipari] told me tonight that all the paperwork for Olivier Sarr has been submitted to NCAA for a waiver to be eligible instantly,” Vitale said on his Twitter page. “To me a no brainer. ALL PLAYERS AT A SCHOOL WITH A COACHING CHANGE should be allowed to transfer & be allowed to play.”

BBB @UKCoachCalipari told me tonight that all the paper work for OLIVIER SARR has been submitted to @NCAA for a waiver to be eligible instantly .To me a no brainer /ALL PLAYERS AT A SCHOOL WITH A COACHING CHANGE should be allowed to transfer & be allowed to play .

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) June 14, 2020

In a string of tweets back in May, Vitale said he felt confident that Sarr will be eligible to play at Kentucky this season.

“Great news for [UCLA] having [Johnny Juzang] eligible as he will help [coach Mick Cronin] but also super news for [Kentucky] for [Olivier Sarr] being declared eligible by [the NCAA],” Vitale tweeted at the time of former UK guard Johnny Juzang being granted immediate eligibility earlier in the week. “Case for Sarr [is] much stronger than Juzang’s.”

“I feel that the NCAA will grant a waiver for [Kentucky’s] Olivier Sarr to be eligible this [year],” Vitale continued in another tweet. “Also based on the quick response on Johnny Juzang given a waiver [at UCLA], I think that the NCAA will be more lenient in waiver requests.”

Last season at Wake Forest, Sarr earned third-team All-ACC honors after averaging 13.7 points and 9.0 rebounds for the Demon Deacons.