In a potentially precedent-setting confrontation, a college football player is transferring even though his former school declined to enter his name into the portal.

Xavier Lucas, a cornerback who played this season for Wisconsin, is transferring to Miami, according to his attorney, after Wisconsin refused to enter his name into the portal because he had signed a revenue-sharing contract with the school.

Lucas announced in December he planned to enter the portal, and he then said on social media that Wisconsin would not enter his name into the database.

His attorney, Darren Heitner, told Yahoo Sports that Lucas will join Miami anyway.

“NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately,” the NCAA said in a statement.

According to Yahoo, Wisconsin would not allow Lucas to enter the portal after he signed a two-year, revenue-share agreement last month.

The pact grants the school the rights to use the player’s name, image and likeness and disallows other schools to do the same.

Heitner said on X that the agreement was contingent on the approval of the House settlement, “which has yet to receive final approval,” and contingent upon Lucas attending classes no later than spring 2025.

According to Heitner, Lucas already has unenrolled from Wisconsin.

Wisconsin “has not paid any monies to him and so he owes no reimbursement to the Institution,” Heitner said.

Lucas saw playing time at Wisconsin as a freshman, recording 18 tackles and an interception after signing as a four-star recruit out of American Heritage High School in South Florida.

According to Yahoo, Heitner said that Lucas requested a transfer while home over the holidays because his father suffered a “serious, life-threatening illness.” NCAA protocol states schools are supposed to enter names into the transfer portal within two business days.

Wisconsin has not yet commented on a face-off that challenges when players can transfer and a school’s enforcement of revenue-share agreements.

Associated Press

San Antonio Spurs (19-21, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Miami Heat (20-20, ninth in the Eastern Conference)

Miami; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Miami takes on San Antonio looking to stop its three-game home slide.

The Heat have gone 10-8 at home. Miami is 10-11 against opponents over .500.

The Spurs have gone 7-11 away from home. San Antonio ranks fourth in the Western Conference with 45.5 rebounds per game led by Victor Wembanyama averaging 10.8.

The Heat are shooting 45.6% from the field this season, 0.1 percentage points lower than the 45.7% the Spurs allow to opponents. The Spurs average 13.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.2 more makes per game than the Heat give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tyler Herro is shooting 47.7% and averaging 24.2 points for the Heat.

Wembanyama is averaging 24.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 4.1 blocks for the Spurs.

LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 4-6, averaging 110.1 points, 42.9 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 7.6 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.2 points per game.

Spurs: 4-6, averaging 112.0 points, 47.6 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 7.4 steals and 7.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.3 points.

INJURIES: Heat: Dru Smith: out for season (achilles), Josh Richardson: day to day (heel).

Spurs: Jeremy Sochan: day to day (back).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The lawyer for Xavier Lucas says the ex-Wisconsin player is transferring to Miami, even though the cornerback’s former school never entered his name into the portal.

Darren Heitner has been representing Lucas, who indicated on social media last month that Wisconsin was refusing to put his name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk to other schools. Lucas had announced earlier in December that he planned to enter the portal.

The NCAA issued a statement Friday saying that “NCAA rules do not prevent a student-athlete from unenrolling from an institution, enrolling at a new institution and competing immediately.”

Yahoo Sports first reported Lucas’ plans to transfer to Miami, as well as the NCAA statement.

Wisconsin officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Yahoo and the Wisconsin State Journal have reported that Lucas had entered into an agreement to continue playing for Wisconsin before requesting the transfer.

Heitner said in an X post that Lucas had agreed to a memorandum of understanding that was conditioned on the approval of the House settlement — which calls for schools to pay players directly for use of their name, image and likeness — and Lucas attending classes no later than this spring. Heitner added that Lucas has since unenrolled from Wisconsin.

Heitner also said that Lucas hasn’t received any money from Wisconsin and therefore owes no money to the school.

Lucas, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, had 12 tackles, an interception and a sack as a freshman for Wisconsin this season.