The new NCAA rule, which allows college athletes to retain five years of eligibility if they enroll no later than their 19th birthday, will have a dramatic affect on rosters at many schools, including the University of Cincinnati.
Both UC and Xavier have been mentioned with players whose eligibility expired under the old rules, but are seeking temporary injunctive relief to be included. Former Utah State players MJ Collins and Kolby King are listed in court documents as wanting to play for the University of Cincinnati.
UC’s official stance is that this is driven by the players and/or their agents, so they’re not commenting on players not on their roster. Xavier’s Filip Borovicanin and Malik Messina-Moore are also seeking a return to the college game, as are many across the country who essentially were not grandfathered in.
What 5-for-5 potentially can do to Cincinnati Bearcats basketball roster
Granted, in today’s constant roster shuffling thanks to lenient transfer portal rules, there’s never a guarantee that any player will return to any team. Of those who could have stayed at UC and played for new coach Jerrod Calhoun, only walk-on Grant Darbyshire elected to stay.
Jizzle James, Keyshuan Tillery, Tyler McKinley and Jordi Rodriguez all followed former coach Wes Miller to Charlotte.
The current roster is totally new to UC fans, outside of Darbyshire. For Calhoun’s staff, Adlan Elamin, Elijah Perryman and David Iweze are familiar, making the transfer from Utah State to Cincinnati.
Now, everyone on the current UC roster as of June 24, has an extra year of eligibility, except Darbyshire, who is a grad student.
Current Cincinnati Bearcats basketball players’ updated eligibility
Six-foot-11 center Riley Allenspach from George Mason, 6-foot-3 guard Trevian Carson from South Dakota State, 6-foot-4 guard Tylen Riley from Tulsa, 6-foot-9 Tyler Tejada from Towson and 6-foot-5 Myles Colvin from Wake Forest were listed as seniors. In addition to the upcoming season, they now have another year to play college basketball if they choose.
Same goes for 6-foot-10 Jayden Hastings from Boston College, who did have a redshirt year, but now could stay on for two seasons if he elected to remain a Bearcat.
Mount Union 6-foot-11 transfer Deshaun Vaden now has three more seasons of eligibility and the biggest bonus comes to those UC had pegged as sophomores this season.
Six-foot-9 forward Adlan Elamin and 6-foot-2 guard Elijah Perry from Utah State, 6-foot-4 guard Akai Fleming from Georgia Tech and 6-foot-6 forward Eric Mahaffey from Akron all now have four more years, along with 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman David Iweze from Utah State.
A successful season for Calhoun and the Bearcats could mean minimal roster flipping and angst in the portal next spring.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NCAA’s new eligibility ruling will dramatically affect UC Bearcats
Reporting by Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Scott Springer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
