A handful of NBA draft picks have an interesting summer decision to make: whether or not take their talents back to school.
On Friday, Colorado district court judge Charlotte Sweeney ruled that the NCAA could not prevent athletes from using a fifth year of eligibility if they enrolled in college in 2022, even if they had already competed for four years. The ruling came as the NCAA is aiming to implement an “age-based” eligibility rule that would give many athletes a fifth season, but not those who enrolled in 2022 and already played four seasons.
Sweeney amended her own ruling over the weekend to clarify that players aren’t eligible if they’re 24 or older or have signed a professional contract.
Even with the adjustment, the decision leaves a handful of players who were drafted in the second round of June’s NBA draft with the potential option to return to school. Vanderbilt wing Tyler Nickel (No. 47 overall to the Knicks), Purdue guard Braden Smith (No. 38 by the Bulls), St. John’s guard Dillion Mitchell (No. 40 to the Celtics) and Florida State’s Lajae Jones (No. 54 to the Warriors) are all apparently eligible to play college basketball next year.
The NBPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The NCAA declined to comment.
