Cameron Fens’ path to playing for UNC took another hit Wednesday when the Tennessee Court of Appeals stayed the injunction that had been helping the plaintiff athletes in the ongoing eligibility fight.
That means the players covered by the lawsuit are now ineligible unless the Court of Appeals ultimately sides with them. For the Tar Heels, that puts Fens right back into limbo, even after it looked just six days ago like he was in the clear.
The ruling affects a wider group of players from the Class of 2022, but it also has a direct impact on North Carolina’s roster. Fens is now technically ineligible for UNC basketball unless another court order changes the situation. His attorneys could still seek additional emergency relief, but for now the program can’t count on that Tennessee injunction to clear him.
There is still a long way to go before this gets resolved. The Court of Appeals still has to decide the actual appeal, and until that happens, Fens’ status remains unsettled. Like Seth Trimble’s case, this is far from over.
UNC would obviously love to have Fens available this season. He is expected to be a major frontcourt piece for the Tar Heels. But the broader eligibility mess continues to churn, with the Class of 2022 still caught in the middle of a dispute that keeps changing by the day.
The latest ruling is another reminder that nothing here is settled yet, and the back-and-forth is not close to ending.
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Even so, linebacker Derek McDonald said the defense believes it can handle the challenge and stay on track. That confidence will be put to the test right away, because North Carolina is counting on its defense to help set the tone for the season and absorb the early pressure of opening against a quality opponent while Belichick's status remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]