A former North Carolina forward is now part of the growing legal push against the NCAA’s new “5-for-5” eligibility rule.
Cade Tyson, who spent one season in Chapel Hill, is among a group of players suing the NCAA in hopes of getting the rule overturned and earning one more year of college eligibility. The rule is an age-based model that gives student-athletes up to five years of competition eligibility within five academic years.
There had been some speculation that the NCAA might give this year’s senior class an extra season, but that did not happen. Still, several players who have already exhausted their eligibility are trying to challenge the decision in court.
Tyson is one of them, and he is not alone in taking that route. After the 2025-2026 season ended, a number of seniors entered the transfer portal as a way to keep their options open in case the rule changed in their favor.
Tyson and former UNC teammate Seth Trimble both put their names in the portal while also preparing for the NBA Draft. Neither was selected, though Trimble quickly signed with the Washington Wizards for NBA Summer League action. Tyson, meanwhile, has not signed with anyone yet.
That alone suggests Tyson is serious about trying to play college basketball again, and believes there’s at least a real chance his case could work.
If he does get another season, it will not be at North Carolina. Tyson’s one year in Chapel Hill is described as an absolute bust, even though he bounced back at Minnesota and averaged 19.6 points per game last season. That production was much closer to the player he had been at Belmont.
Kentucky is rumored to be among the programs interested if Tyson becomes available, and other teams in need of a sharpshooting forward are expected to join the mix as well.
For now, Tyson’s lawsuit is one more sign of how much uncertainty the new rule has created. If players start winning these challenges, it could open the door for even more lawsuits over eligibility, and the NCAA’s latest move may end up inviting even more chaos.
In Other News...
Hubert Davis Finally Addressed The Caleb Wilson Debate UNC Fans Feared
Caleb Wilsons strong showing in NBA Summer League has only sharpened the conversation around what kind of pro he can become, and it has also kept his North Carolina exit in the spotlight. Hubert Davis has been clear that he is proud of Wilsons progress, praising the forwards character and competitiveness while pointing to the kind of growth that has made him look like a future NBA player.
Wilsons earlier comments about his role at North Carolina not emphasizing three-point shooting have lingered in the background, feeding a broader debate about coaching and player development. Davis, for his part, has tried to keep the focus on Wilsons talent and trajectory rather than any lingering tension, which is why the subject still feels like one Tar Heels fans will keep circling until it is fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Did Drake Powell Leave UNC Before His Offense Was Ready
Drake Powells first summer as a pro has looked a lot like the version of him that made him such an intriguing draft pick in the first place: long, explosive and disruptive on defense. The rookie taken 22nd overall has flashed the athleticism that made him a first-rounder, but his offensive game is still very much a work in progress, and that showed up again during NBA Summer League.
A recent 18-point outing offered a reminder of what Powell can do when the shot is falling, but it did not erase the bigger concern around his comfort level as a scorer. He still looks uneasy putting the ball on the floor and creating against a defender, which is why the question lingers for North Carolina fans: would another year in Chapel Hill, with a bigger role and more offensive reps, have helped him arrive in the league more ready for the next step? [Read more 🡒]
This Tar Heel Could Change Everything About UNCs Passing Game
North Carolina is heading toward training camp with plenty still to sort out on offense, and the passing game may end up being the biggest swing factor of all. Bobby Petrino has reason to feel encouraged about the personnel he has to work with, especially after the Tar Heels added pieces through the transfer portal and brought in a receiver in Humphrey from Lehigh who is expected to fit in quickly alongside Jordan Shipp.
What makes the next few weeks so interesting is that the quarterback job is still open, with Billy Edwards Jr., Travis Burgess and Miles ONeill all in the mix. However that battle settles, the Tar Heels are clearly trying to build a more dangerous aerial attack, and Humphrey looks like one of the newcomers who could help change the shape of it once camp gets going. [Read more 🡒]