Eric Paschall granted permission to contact other schools

Eric Paschall, newly minted Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, has been granted permission to speak to other schools, potentially leading to transfer from Fordham. (Photo courtesy of the New York Post)

The exodus has not yet started at Fordham, but the Rams' leading scorer is testing the waters.

Eric Paschall, who was recently recognized as the Atlantic 10's Rookie of the Year, has been given permission to contact other schools in regard to a possible transfer from Rose Hill. The freshman sensation tweeted this revelation earlier this afternoon, and Fordham sports information director Joe DiBari soon confirmed that Paschall was indeed cleared to reach out to a list of schools. The schools on this list have not been released to the media or public at this time.

I have been granted Permission to Contact, which means my recruitment is now open.
— Eric Paschall (@Epaschall4) March 23, 2015

While the initial reaction to this news would be that Paschall was granted a release to transfer, that is presently not the case. Josh Thomson of The Journal News, a Westchester-based newspaper which covered Paschall when he attended Dobbs Ferry High School, confirmed with Paschall's father that a full release was not requested.

In addition, neither Paschall nor his father would not rule out a return to Fordham, where the 6-6 wing averaged 15.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Fordham is still an option for a school
— Eric Paschall (@Epaschall4) March 23, 2015

"There's nothing saying we're going to leave Fordham," Paschall's father, Juan, told The Journal News. "I think I would be doing him a disservice if I didn't at least give him an opportunity to look at some other schools and see what other options were out there."

Should Paschall transfer, he would have to complete a mandatory year in residence that would preclude him from playing next season, but he would still retain three years of eligibility, resuming with the 2016-17 campaign. Regardless, the Paschall camp maintained that Eric's current home might still be his permanent one.

"It's about trust," Juan Paschall reiterated, "and that's why Fordham has the upper hand. I know that Fordham is going to take care of my son. I don't know that about those other schools."