Ven-Allen Lubin’s path to another college season got a lot clearer Thursday night, and it no longer hinges on what happens in the Colorado case.
The key development came from Texas, where The Texas Trial Group said a Temporary Restraining Order had been granted for a group of its clients, including Lubin. The firm said those athletes “are now protected by the TRO and remain protected regardless of what happens with Colorado.”
That’s the important part: the Texas order stands on its own. Even if the Colorado ruling is later paused, narrowed, or overturned, Lubin’s eligibility for 2026-27 is still protected by the Texas TRO.
A Temporary Restraining Order is a short-term court order that freezes the situation while the case continues, preventing the NCAA from taking certain actions in the meantime. In this case, the order stops the NCAA from treating the covered athletes as ineligible under the new age-based “five-for-five” rule. Because it was issued in the Texas case, it applies directly to the players named there rather than depending on the broader Colorado class-action injunction.
That’s why Lubin and Darrion Williams were among the players who traveled to Texas for the hearing. The Texas Trial Group noted on social media that Williams drove from Lubbock to Waco with less than 24hrs notice to be present.
The practical effect is simple: the Texas TRO makes Lubin eligible on its own. The larger Colorado case may still matter, but it is no longer the thing holding up Lubin’s status.
For NC State fans, that changes the timeline. The expectation now is to operate as if Lubin will be available next season, and the situation around him is expected to move quickly. The same order also includes Alfred (AJ) Worrell Jr., the MEAC scoring champ who has also been linked to NC State.
At this point, the Texas ruling appears to have done the heavy lifting. Lubin’s case is no longer waiting on Colorado to decide its fate, and an answer on his future could come very soon.
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NC States Push For A Difference-Making Big Just Got More Complicated
NC States search for a difference-making big man is suddenly moving in a more complicated recruiting landscape. A Texas court granted a Temporary Restraining Order that gives 36 athletes immediate eligibility to play, and among that group are three players the Wolfpack have had on their radar. The ruling only adds another layer to a market that has already been shaped by constant movement, eligibility uncertainty and the need for programs to decide quickly where their resources should go.
The Wolfpack have been in ongoing communication with Ven Lubin and Micah Handlogten, two names that fit the kind of frontcourt help they are trying to add. But any pursuit now has to be weighed against the financial terms involved and the ripple effect of these latest eligibility decisions, which can change the board almost overnight. For NC State, the challenge is no longer just identifying the right big. It is figuring out whether it can stay in the race long enough to get one. [Read more 🡒]
NC States Early Bet On Jamil Robinson Already Looks Smart
NC States June offer to Jamil Robinson looks a lot more foresightful now than it did when it was first extended. The 6-foot-11 power forward in the 2027 class was still unranked and unrated by the major recruiting services at the time, but his stock has climbed since then, with 247Sports and Rivals both moving him up to a 3-star prospect.
Robinson is also set to get a fuller look at the program soon, with an official visit to Raleigh scheduled for September 11 as a committed recruit. For a staff that got in early, the timing only adds to the appeal, because Robinsons rise has already begun to validate the Wolfpacks belief before he even steps on campus for that visit. [Read more 🡒]