Akron forward Amani Lyles has landed at Cincinnati, and the move comes with the kind of eligibility wrinkle that could still hang over the Bearcats before the season tips.
Joe Tipton reported Thursday that Lyles is committed to Cincinnati for the upcoming season. The 6-foot-9 forward is also tied to the Ohio lawsuit after Gov.
Mike DeWine issued an executive order saying all of the state’s universities can grant a fifth year of eligibility to players in Lyles’ situation. The NCAA is now set to take DeWine and Ohio to federal court.
Lyles put together a big year for the Zips, averaging 14.9 points, 2.2 assists and 7.9 rebounds last season.
He is listed alongside fellow Cincinnati commit MJ Collins on Jerrod Calhoun’s 2026-27 roster as of Thursday. Collins, who transferred from Utah State, had his case flipped but regained his eligibility through DeWine’s executive order.
Still, the situation is far from settled. It remains unclear whether the lawsuit will be resolved before Cincinnati opens the season against American University on Nov. 2.
The NCAA is trying to bring states such as Ohio under its new 5-for-5 rule, which bars athletes from the Class of 2022 from getting an extra year under the updated system. That structure gives every athlete a five-year clock starting from enrollment or their 19th birthday, whichever comes first, and the old redshirt and medical waiver routes appear to be gone.
For Cincinnati, that leaves Lyles and Collins in a murky spot until the legal fight plays out. Their names are on the roster, but their status is still exposed to whatever comes next in court.
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