Babacar Sane, a standout guard for St. John’s University, has been granted a temporary restraining order by the New York Supreme Court that permits him to continue practicing with the team while his NCAA eligibility for the 2026‑27 season is examined.
Legal Challenge and Eligibility Review
The NCAA’s eligibility center ruled Sane ineligible earlier this year, citing his extensive experience in the G‑League as a factor that called his amateur status into question. Sane’s legal team argues that his professional background is materially indistinguishable from that of teammates such as London Johnson, Thierry Darlan and James Nnaji, all of whom have previously been cleared to compete in college.
In a 55‑page complaint filed against the NCAA, Sane named more than ninety players with notable professional résumés, asserting that the league’s criteria are applied inconsistently. The filing underscores a broader dispute among St. John’s athletes who have transitioned from overseas or developmental leagues into the collegiate arena.
Sane’s case is further complicated by the fact that the NCAA has indicated he retains two seasons of eligibility, a determination made after the eligibility center reviewed his two‑year tenure in the G‑League, where he logged 75 games, averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds, and shot 43.7 percent from the field.
Beyond college, Sane’s professional journey includes a non‑guaranteed contract with the Utah Jazz in August 2024, a brief stint that ended before training camp, and a recent season with German first‑division side Riesen Ludwigsburg. The university also offered him a revenue‑sharing arrangement valued at more than $1 million, highlighting the financial stakes involved.
The outcome of the October 1 hearing is expected to influence not only Sane’s personal eligibility but also the future of St. John’s basketball, which is currently projected to contend for a third straight Big East title. Uncertainty surrounds the status of fellow players such as Keyshawn Hall, Reed Bailey and Quinn Ellis, whose own eligibility battles could reshape the team’s preseason rankings.