Mike Sharavjamts, a former South Carolina Gamecocks forward who earned the nickname ‘Mongolian Mike,’ is part of a group of 17 men’s basketball players who have filed a legal petition in South Carolina seeking an additional year of collegiate eligibility under the NCAA’s newly adopted ‘5‑for‑5’ rule.
The rule, which grants a fifth season to athletes who began their collegiate careers before the 2020‑21 academic year, has sparked a wave of injunctions across the country, and Sharavjamts’ case is among the most high‑profile.
Professional Experience Complicates Eligibility
Sharavjamts’ path to the petition has been atypical. After stints at Dayton, San Francisco and Utah, he transferred to Columbia and spent his senior season with the Gamecocks, where he averaged 10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. His professional exposure includes participation in the NBA Summer League with the Orlando Magic, a factor the NCAA has indicated may influence eligibility determinations.
Roster Stability at South Carolina
Coach Lamont Paris has repeatedly emphasized that the program will not be adding any additional players for the 2026‑27 season. The Gamecocks finished the previous campaign with a full complement of 15 scholarship athletes, and Paris confirmed that legal injunctions are not part of their roster planning.
If the court grants the petition, Sharavjamts would likely need to transfer to another institution to utilize his fifth year, a scenario that could reshape the landscape of college basketball eligibility. The outcome of this case may also set a precedent for how the NCAA evaluates players with prior professional experience when applying the ‘5‑for‑5’ framework.