What is the status of a recruited prospective student-athlete who enrolls in summer school and later decides not to enroll in the fall?

When a recruited prospective student-athlete enrolls in summer school, they are officially considered a student at that institution for that term. If they later decide not to enroll for the fall semester, this status transitions into that of a transfer student. This is because they have begun their college education, albeit for a short duration, and if they choose to attend a different institution afterward, they must go through the transfer process.

This classification carries significant implications for their eligibility and NCAA compliance rules. A transfer student, for instance, might face different requirements regarding their eligibility to compete in their new program compared to a typical incoming first-year student who has not engaged in college coursework yet.