2 min read
Author: Kaleia Knappe
Image Credit: SJF
I’m sure that by now everyone has heard that former Kansas Jayhawk Melvin “The Dawg” Council Jr. is suing the NCAA to gain another year of college eligibility. Council Jr. has already played five years of collegiate basketball. Two with Monroe Junior College (2021–2023), one with Wagner (2023–2024), one with St. Bonaventure (2024–2025), and finally one with Kansas (2025–2026). Council Jr. was only able to attend KU last year due to the blanket waiver that the NCAA signed. The waiver permitted athletes who played in JuCo to receive an extra year of eligibility.
What is his rationale?
Well, Council Jr. and his legal team are have claimed that the NCAA wrongly punishes athletes who begin their collegiate career at a non-NCAA organization (such as Monroe) by starting their eligibility clock then. They assert that this reduces the ability of these athletes to earn NIL money. Council Jr. also states that previous criminal allegations against him (proven to be false) forced him into JuCo out of high school. Vanderbilt Quarterback Diego Pavia filed a similar case and was granted the extra year. Will Council Jr. get the same?
Personally, I would like him to come back to KU, if he is granted a sixth year. He was a great presence on the court and in the locker room. On the court, he averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal in the 34.9 minutes he averaged per game. He would also bring experience under Bill Self, something that this young 2026–2027 team is lacking. On the other hand, the back court is stacked. Taylen Kinney and Leroy Blyden Jr. are poised to be very strong men. However, with the former being a freshman and the latter a sophomore, it would be helpful to have this veteran’s experience.
More to come!
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