Michigan’s reported addition of Columbia fifth-year transfer Kenny Noland has hit a legal roadblock, and for now the move is on pause.
Noland, who spent four years as a lead guard for Columbia, was expected to bring Michigan veteran presence and help as a backup for Elliot Cadeau. Reports said he had signed with the Wolverines, but Michigan never formally announced it, and the reason appears to be eligibility uncertainty.
The issue traces back to a July ruling from Colorado-based judge Charlotte Sweeney, who issued a preliminary injunction allowing the entire 2022 class to receive a fifth year of eligibility. That decision came in response to the NCAA’s new five-for-five rule, which removed redshirts and waivers and gave athletes five years of eligibility.
The 2022 class benefited from that injunction at first, but on Friday the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA’s request to stay the Colorado ruling. As a result, those 2022 athletes are now ineligible.
That puts Noland in limbo for this season, and the same situation would apply to Roddy Gayle Jr. if he wanted to return to Michigan.
There are still players from the 2022 class who will be eligible in 2026, because they secured their own injunctions. For Noland or Gayle Jr. to become eligible again, they would need to pursue an injunction against the NCAA themselves.
For Michigan, the timing adds more uncertainty to a season already full of questions. The college football season begins next weekend, and the college basketball season isn’t far behind.
Michigan still has two open scholarships, and one would likely go to Noland if he gets an injunction before the season starts.
The fit is obvious. Noland averaged more than 17 points per game at Columbia and also put up nearly four assists and rebounds per night. He would give Michigan a proven option without forcing younger players into bigger roles too soon.
Gayle Jr. would offer a similar boost if he returned. Mike Boynton Jr. has said he would welcome him back, and Gayle Jr. brings a championship mindset, along with dependable three-point shooting and strong defense.
For now, both the Noland situation and the broader NCAA eligibility picture remain unsettled. More legal challenges are expected in the coming weeks, and the mess around the NCAA is only getting bigger.
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