A federal ruling on Friday could reshape college sports overnight, with every athlete from the high school class of 2022 now being granted a fifth playing season.
Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado issued a class-wide preliminary injunction that forces the NCAA to make all class of 2022 athletes who used up four seasons of eligibility this spring eligible for one more year.
In practical terms, that opens the door for any college athlete whose eligibility was set to expire to return for another season if they want it. It also means players chasing that extra year can enter the transfer portal, giving programs a fresh wave of options. For Kentucky Basketball and Mark Pope, that could matter in a big way as they look to fill the 15th and final roster spot.
One of the clearest examples is Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen. He had played out what would have been his final college season with the Kentucky Wildcats last year and was suing to gain another year. With the ruling, he’s now set to play for a Florida team that already looked like the preseason favorite to win it all next year.
There’s still a major question hanging over the decision: how it affects players who have already signed professional contracts. Two former Cats who could otherwise benefit are basketball guard Otega Oweh and volleyball outside hitter Eva Hudson. Oweh recently signed a two-way deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, while Hudson signed with LOVB (League One Volleyball) Atlanta in December.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Final Roster Spot Just Became A Real Calipari Debate
A federal ruling out of Colorado has added a fresh wrinkle to Kentuckys offseason roster planning, and it comes with a familiar name attached. Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a class-wide preliminary injunction for players who graduated high school in 2022 and used all four years of college eligibility, opening the door for an extra season that had been in question as the calendar turned toward summer. Former Wildcat Denzel Aberdeen is taking advantage of it and heading back to Florida for his final year, a move that underscores just how much this decision is already rippling through the sport.
For Kentucky, the timing matters because John Calipari had already left one roster spot open while waiting for exactly this kind of clarity. Now the staff can keep weighing whether to fill it based on team needs and player health, which makes the last scholarship less of a formality than it once seemed. What happens next will depend on how Calipari balances depth, flexibility and the realities of the roster he has in front of him, with one more decision still hanging over the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Jerone Morton Gives Kentucky A Backcourt Presence Fans Will Appreciate
Jerone Morton arrives at Kentucky with the kind of background that tends to resonate in Lexington. A senior guard from Winchester, he is expected to provide depth behind the Wildcats starting backcourt of Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins, and he brings plenty of experience with him after appearing in 92 career games and making 51 starts. For a team that always values backcourt steadiness, Morton looks like a useful piece who already understands what it means to wear the jersey.
Morton has also made it clear he is comfortable embracing whatever role Kentucky needs from him, whether that comes on defense or offense. There is a natural appeal in the fact that he grew up supporting the program, because the opportunity is not just another stop for him, it is a chance to contribute to the team he followed as a kid. That combination of local roots, experience and willingness to help could make him one of the more appreciated additions to the rotation. [Read more 🡒]