The latest NCAA eligibility ruling has left UNC center Cameron Fens with far less room to maneuver.
On Friday, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and vacated the nationwide ruling in Wisne v. NCAA, wiping out what had been the broadest remaining path for fifth-year players across the country to gain eligibility. The injunction in that case was granted on July 31 and stayed on August 21, so it was never in effect between then and Friday’s decision.
For plenty of players in the class of 2022, that setback may not change much. For Fens, it matters a lot more.
The seven-foot South Dakota transfer is still without an active injunction in his own state lawsuit. He was one of 19 plaintiffs in Washington et al. v.
NCAA, a Tennessee case that initially opened the door for him to play in Chapel Hill. But the Tennessee Court of Appeals stayed the injunction that protected his fifth year, which left him ineligible unless another court move changes the picture.
That made Wisne the last major safety net for Fens. Because the case was filed as a class action, a favorable ruling would have covered all class of 2022 athletes who finished their fourth season of eligibility this spring.
Instead, “The decision hinged over what judges said was the plaintiffs' inability to define the market for players.” With that gone, his situation now comes down to the single Tennessee case.
The timing is especially frustrating for UNC, which has already felt the absence. The Tar Heels were outrebounded 41-32 by Western Carolina even with the height advantage, and Fens’ presence on the floor is the kind of thing Carolina has been missing.
Last season, Fens averaged 8.7 rebounds, exactly the kind of production the Tar Heels need in the starting lineup. With him still sidelined, the burden in the frontcourt continues to fall on Sayon Keita and Jarin Stevenson.
Friday’s ruling doesn’t end Fens’ push for eligibility, but it does remove that extra layer of protection. Unless the Tennessee case changes, UNC will have to keep finding answers on the glass without its seven-footer.
In Other News...
UNC Just Got A Real Shot At A Five-Star Guard
Brady Pettigrews recruitment is starting to take shape, and North Carolina is firmly in the mix. The five-star guard has trimmed his list to 10 programs, putting the Tar Heels alongside a heavy group that includes Duke, Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and others, and he recently wrapped up an official visit to Chapel Hill.
Pettigrew is currently ranked No. 9 overall in the Class of 2028, which already makes him one of the most coveted guards in the country. There is also growing speculation that he could reclassify into an earlier class, a possibility that would only heighten the urgency around his recruitment, even if no decision has been confirmed yet. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Delivered The Response Fans Needed After Early Criticism
After an uneven opener, North Carolina answered with the kind of complete effort fans had been waiting to see, rolling past Wofford 109-70 in its second game of the season. The Tar Heels looked far more connected on both ends, and the box score reflected it, with five players finishing in double figures and Terrence Brown pacing the way with 21 points.
Maximo Adams added a double-double as UNC controlled the glass and showed the depth that had been missing a game earlier. It was the sort of response that does not erase early questions, but it does give the Tar Heels a much better baseline to build from as the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Win Over UConn Revives One Debate Tar Heel Fans Know Well
North Carolinas 38-21 win over UConn gave the Tar Heels a much-needed step forward as they moved to five victories and kept bowl eligibility in sight. It also came with a few performances that stood out beyond the final score, from Jelani Thurman tying a school record for touchdown catches by a tight end to Benjamin Hall setting the tone on the ground before leaving with an injury.
Peyton Seelmann added two sacks, and the defense came away with three turnovers and three sacks overall, which was enough to tilt the game UNCs way. Still, the unit also gave up several big plays, leaving the familiar question hanging over this team: how much of this was a sign of real progress, and how much is simply another reminder that the Tar Heels still have work to do on both sides of the ball? [Read more 🡒]