Melvin Council Jr. Wants to Run It Back at Kansas - But the NCAA Clock Might Say Otherwise
Melvin Council Jr. has been a revelation for Kansas this season. A dynamic guard with a do-it-all game, he's averaging 13.8 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per night while ranking among the Big 12’s best in assist-to-turnover ratio - a stat that speaks volumes about his poise and decision-making. He’s not just producing; he’s thriving in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.
And if it were up to him, he’d be back in Lawrence next season, ready to build on everything he’s started.
“I would love to come back if I had another year,” Council said Thursday. “It’s Kansas.
Why not? Bill Self.”
But Council’s potential return isn’t just about wanting to wear the crimson and blue again. It’s about what happens in courtrooms across the country - and how the NCAA responds to a growing chorus of legal challenges that could reshape how eligibility is counted.
Council’s current season with Kansas was made possible by a blanket waiver the NCAA issued last year, following litigation involving Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia. That case questioned whether junior college seasons should count toward the NCAA’s five-year eligibility clock - a rule that has long defined the limits of a college athlete’s career. Another key ruling is expected next week, and it could have a direct impact on Council’s ability to return.
Kansas head coach Bill Self isn’t hiding where he stands on the matter.
“Would I love that? Absolutely,” Self said. “I love coaching him.”
It’s easy to see why. Council brings toughness, tempo, and leadership to the floor - the kind of glue guy who can also go get you a bucket when you need one. He’s the type of player who makes a good team better, and a great team dangerous.
But the legal landscape is murky. Alongside Pavia’s case, another lawsuit - this one involving Joey Aguilar - is challenging how JUCO seasons are factored into eligibility and NIL opportunities. Both cases are part of a broader push to reevaluate how the NCAA’s eligibility rules apply to athletes with winding paths through junior colleges, mid-majors, and beyond.
Council’s journey fits squarely in that mold. After two years at the JUCO level, he made stops at Wagner and St.
Bonaventure before landing at Kansas. Now, like many athletes with similar backgrounds, he’s waiting to see if the courts - or perhaps the NCAA itself - will open the door for one more year.
Self, for his part, isn’t overly optimistic but isn’t closing the door either.
“I haven’t studied it,” he said. “I know that there would have to be some things that are done. And the NCAA has made statements that they’re certainly frowning on waivers, so to speak.”
The NCAA’s recent denial of a waiver for Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss - whose case involved Division II play rather than JUCO - highlights just how narrow the path might be. Still, the circumstances are different, and Council’s case could be part of a broader shift if the courts side with the athletes.
For now, Council waits. He’s focused on the season at hand, but the possibility of returning to Kansas clearly holds weight.
“I haven’t looked into that, but I’ve been hearing things, seeing things and stuff like that,” he said. “I mean, I would love to come back.”
And for Kansas fans, there’s no mystery to the appeal. Council has brought energy, efficiency, and a winning mentality to the Jayhawks’ backcourt. He’s the kind of player who makes Allen Fieldhouse buzz - and if the legal chips fall the right way, he just might get the chance to do it all over again.