Former Clemson point guard Dillon Hunter suddenly has another college season on the table, and that could put him right back in orange.
Hunter, who started four seasons for Brad Brownell without redshirting, was one of 30-plus players granted a court injunction Wednesday that allows them to play another year of college basketball in 2026-27. A Georgia judge sided with a group of Class of 2022 athletes who sued the NCAA in an effort to retroactively benefit from the league’s “5 for 5” rule, which is set to take effect in 2026 but did not apply to former players.
Lawyer Darren Heitner confirmed to The State on Wednesday that Hunter was among the plaintiffs and can benefit from the injunction.
In his ruling, Cobb (Ga.) County superior court judge Henry Thompson said the NCAA cannot block the players from taking the court for a fifth season while the case plays out. Thompson also wrote that the NCAA could not keep players out if they had not previously entered the transfer portal or if they had signed pro contracts, “so long as they terminate such contract and return money received other than reasonable and necessary expenses.”
That detail matters for Hunter. He was announced as a signee with German team Eisbären Bremerhaven on July 17, about two weeks before a separate Colorado ruling in Wisne v.
NCAA opened the door for Class of 2022 athletes to explore a fifth college season. Under Wednesday’s Georgia injunction, that pro deal would not prevent him from returning to college as long as he gives back the money.
Hunter’s path back to Clemson is at least plausible. He previously told On3 Sports he was entering the transfer portal, which signaled he was interested in playing a fifth year if the chance came.
If he and Clemson want to make it happen, the fit is obvious. The Tigers have filled 14 of their 15 roster spots for 2026-27, leaving one opening, and The Clemson Insider reported Sunday that Clemson “has the means” to offer Hunter more money than his recent overseas contract.
Hunter would also bring familiarity the Tigers could use. He played in 134 games for Clemson and started 48 from 2022-26, including 35 starts last season. He averaged 7.5 points and 3.4 assists per game in 2025-26 and could step back in as a veteran point guard who already knows Brownell’s offense.
Of course, Clemson is not his only option. The judge’s ruling also allows Hunter to transfer and play elsewhere.
Hunter is one of several former Clemson players affected by the decision. Forward RJ Godfrey, who has already committed to Arizona for his fifth year in 2026-27, was also included in the injunction.
Godfrey led Clemson in scoring last season and ranked second on the team in rebounds, putting up 12.0 points and 5.3 boards per game. Former Clemson and Florida State wing Chauncey Wiggins is also eligible after the ruling.
The Georgia decision is part of a wider scramble across college sports. The Wisne v.
NCAA case granted class action certification and a preliminary injunction that makes all Class of 2022 athletes whose eligibility had expired eligible for a fifth year, with some exceptions. The NCAA is fighting the ruling in Colorado, but the impact is already spreading, with dozens of football and basketball programs checking on former players and some schools, including Indiana and UNC, already announcing additions.
Clemson, meanwhile, is finishing a 10-day trip to Italy that included three exhibition games. The Tigers are scheduled to return home Thursday.
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