Kentucky’s hopes of landing Mark Mitchell will have to wait a little longer.
Mitchell, Missouri’s transfer target and a potential fit for the Wildcats’ final roster spot, was in a court hearing Friday at the Jefferson County District Courthouse as he tries to secure a fifth year of eligibility and the right to transfer. The hearing took place in Louisville and also included two Louisville football players in a case against the NCAA.
The timing matters because of a recent Colorado ruling that opened the door for all upcoming fifth-year seniors from the 2022 high school graduating class to become eligible and be grandfathered into the new 5-for-5 rule. But Mitchell’s situation is different: that ruling only applies to players who were already in the transfer portal, and he is not.
After Friday’s hearing, judge Edwards said he will consider everything before issuing a final ruling by the end of next week. Edwards also said Mitchell and his side can submit any additional information by Tuesday.
For now, Mitchell remains not officially eligible as he waits on the court to decide his case. The NCAA is continuing to challenge the Colorado ruling, and in doing so is making the path harder for players in Mitchell’s position.
The NCAA said in its statement:
"The Division I Cabinet, including its student-athlete members, carefully considered whether to make the age-based eligibility rule apply retroactively, and decided that doing so would not be in the best interest of all current and future college athletes. We stand behind and will continue to fully defend the membership's decision. The injunction should never have been granted, and we have asked the Tenth Circuit to permanently reverse it."
Until the ruling comes down, Kentucky fans are left waiting. If Mitchell does get cleared, the Wildcats would be right in the mix.
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