The NCAA introduced a 5‑in‑5 eligibility rule in June 2025 that grants Division I student‑athletes up to five years of eligibility when they enroll before turning 19. By removing sport‑specific limits, redshirt restrictions and waiver processes, the policy was meant to standardize how long a player could remain in college. However, the Class of 2022 was omitted from the grandfather clause, leaving those who had already completed four seasons without automatic protection.
Legal Victory Opens Door for Returning Players
Legal challenges quickly followed, and on July 9, 2025 an Ohio court issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily restored eligibility for 24 basketball players from that class. A week later, a Colorado judge ordered the NCAA to treat the entire Class of 2022 as eligible for a fifth season of competition. As a result, former Mizzou center Shawn Phillips Jr. and forward Sterling Webb, both members of the Class of 2022, have been cleared to return for the 2026‑27 campaign.
Among those benefiting from the rulings is Mark Mitchell, a two‑time All‑SEC honoree who entered the transfer portal after the eligibility decision signaled his intent to resume college basketball. Missouri’s roster limit of 15 scholarship players creates a logistical hurdle, as the program would need either an NCAA exception or a reshuffling of scholarships to accommodate him. Other SEC institutions such as LSU, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Kentucky have identified open slots that could be attractive alternatives.
The ripple effect extends beyond Missouri. The eligibility shift has drawn former NBA draftees and G‑League veterans back into the college ranks, forcing conferences to revisit long‑standing roster‑cap assumptions. Plaintiffs in the ongoing litigation argue that many teams do not actually fill their maximum allowable scholarships, a claim that could further weaken the NCAA’s cap‑enforcement rationale.
Missouri’s coaching staff, led by head coach Dennis Gates, now faces a decision about how Mitchell fits into a roster that already features five‑star freshman guard Jason Crowe Jr. The newcomer is expected to be the centerpiece of the 2026‑27 lineup, but Mitchell’s proven scoring ability could alter playing time and chemistry. The team’s nonconference schedule, already among the nation’s toughest, will require rapid adaptation if Mitchell joins the squad.