Kansas basketball just received one of the biggest pieces of news of the offseason, and it could dramatically alter the Jayhawks' plans with the 2026-27 season approaching.
Former Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. has been granted an injunction against the NCAA in Monroe County, New York, according to Michael Swain of 247Sports. Swain reported Tuesday that Judge Daniel J. Doyle granted Council's request and that Council is "immediately eligible."
That represents a significant victory for Council after a months-long legal fight over whether his previous junior college seasons should prevent him from playing another year of Division I basketball.
Now comes the question Kansas fans have been waiting to ask.
Could Council actually be coming back to Lawrence?
Council's eligibility battle finally produces a breakthrough
Council spent two seasons at Monroe College before playing at Wagner, St. Bonaventure and Kansas. His argument centered on whether his junior college participation should count against his NCAA eligibility.
The NCAA strongly opposed Council's request. In an earlier court filing, the organization argued that he had already benefited from multiple eligibility exceptions and shouldn't receive another opportunity to compete. KU Sports
Council eventually moved his case from Kansas to his home state of New York. Earlier this month, Doyle ordered the NCAA to appear and explain why Council should not receive an injunction, but at that point stopped short of immediately granting Council eligibility. KU Sports
Tuesday's ruling, as reported by Swain, changes that equation.
Council has his injunction.
And, most importantly, he is immediately eligible.
Kansas suddenly has a fascinating decision to make
There is an obvious basketball reason for Kansas to be interested.
Council became one of Bill Self's most important players last season after transferring from St. Bonaventure. He started throughout the season, helped Kansas reach the Big 12 tournament semifinals and NCAA Tournament second round and was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. AOL.com
His experience, physicality and ability to handle the basketball would make him an enormously intriguing late addition to a Kansas team with major expectations.
But eligibility is only part of the story.
Council participated in NBA Summer League with the New Orleans Pelicans after last season. The Big 12 subsequently adopted a rule barring its schools from rostering athletes who meet certain criteria for professional status, including signing a professional contract or being listed on a professional league roster. That created a potential additional obstacle for Council even if he prevailed against the NCAA. Yahoo Sports
There is also the matter of Kansas' roster. The Jayhawks have already been constructing their team without knowing whether Council would become available.
Those questions will have to be sorted out quickly.
But Tuesday's news removes the biggest immediate obstacle that had been hanging over Council for months.
He fought the NCAA for another opportunity to play college basketball.
He now has an injunction saying he can.
For Kansas, the most interesting part of this story may only be beginning.
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