Chris Boucher Awarded Extra Year of Eligibility by NCAA: Details and Reaction

Oregon forward Chris Boucher will return to the school next year after the team announced that the NCAA granted him an additional year of eligibility Wednesday.  

Boucher has provided an immediate impact after arriving from Northwest College in Wyoming. In 34 games for the Ducks this year, the junior college transfer has averaged 12.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks. He's also shooting an impressive 54.2 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the arc.

Oregon's student section was thrilled to hear he'll be back:

Last November, the NCAA originally ruled Boucher would only be eligible for one year.

"After completing his academic requirements at the two junior colleges, it was determined that Chris Boucher currently has one year of eligibility remaining," said the Oregon athletic department, per Matt Prehm of 247Sports' Duck Territory. "The coaching staff was aware of this possibility during Chris' recruitment."

In February, USA Today's Daniel Uthman explained the source of Boucher's issues. He had taken time off from high school in order to work at a restaurant and support his family:

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Boucher's timeline included a final year of high school as a junior in 2010-11, a year of inactivity in 2011-12, and a year of what would equate to postgraduate study that included 13 games of competition in 2012-13.

The NCAA, however, has deemed the end of his junior year as his high school graduation date, leaving 2011-12 as a postgraduate "gap year" and the time at Alma Academy and the 13 games he played against other prep schools as his first year of college competition. Thus, it views Boucher's two seasons of junior college play as his sophomore and junior seasons of eligibility and this season his final, senior year.

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The NCAA determined the situation to be "circumstances beyond his control," paving the way for his extra year of eligibility, per Rob Moseley of the Ducks' official athletics website.

Getting Boucher back for next season is big for Oregon. He has been one of the team's best players and should continue to improve in 2016-17.

Should the Ducks also retain sophomore guard Dillon Brooks, freshman guard Tyler Dorsey and sophomore forward Jordan Bell, they will once again be a national title contender.