Fifth-year seniors are absolutely shaking up the college hoops landscape, straight-up challenging the NCAA for extra eligibility. This whole wild situation is totally changing how teams look, and it’s all happening just weeks before official practices are even supposed to tip off in late September. Forget that old saying about “National Championships are won in April but are built in the spring,” because this offseason feels like it’s never gonna end.
Jaxon Kohler’s Wild Ride to BYU and the Courtroom
Look at Jaxson Kohler, for example. The dude transferred from Michigan State and just committed to BYU, filling what was Kevin Young’s biggest hole on the roster. This isn’t just some bench player; Kohler was putting up serious numbers, averaging 12.6 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 39 percent from deep for a Michigan State squad that earned a No. 3 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Here’s the kicker: Kohler even signed an Exhibit 10 contract and played for the Utah Jazz’s summer league team! But get this, he’s got a pathway back to college hoops because he won a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. That’s right, a court ruling, not the NCAA, is deciding his fate.
The NCAA’s Losing Battle And Its Impact on Every Major Program
The chaos didn’t stop with Kohler. Former UCLA guard Donovan Dent committed to LSU just days ago. If he’s eligible, Dent will link up with his old UCLA teammate Skyy Clark in Baton Rouge. This entire mess stems from the NCAA’s “five-in-five” age-based eligibility guidelines, adopted back in June, which totally snubbed the Class of 2022 for a fifth year. Kohler is just one of hundreds of seniors fighting this rule in over a dozen court cases across the country. Even after getting slammed with losses in courtrooms from Colorado to Ohio, the NCAA is still digging its heels in, refusing to budge. So yeah, the judicial system is gonna have the final word here, and the outlook for dozens of contenders completely hinges on what the judges say. Right now, the Big 12 is looking like a major winner, scooping up 12 fifth-year seniors from the market in the last month after some favorable court rulings. The SEC is next up among high-majors, with six fifth-year commitments. LSU’s strategy of recruiting a bunch of players who might not even be eligible for the 2026-27 season is a bold move. It could be pure genius, or it could completely backfire.
We’re heading into what promises to be one of the most unpredictable college basketball seasons ever. The legal battles are just getting started, and the future of so many programs is still up in the air. Keep your eyes glued to those court dockets because they might tell you more about who’s playing than any practice report.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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