Steve Lutz is backing Kashie Natt as the Oklahoma State guard pushes to gain another year of eligibility.
The Cowboys coach addressed the situation Wednesday on X, saying the program is standing behind Natt while the matter moves through the court system. Lutz’s statement came as Natt continues to seek an injunction from a Payne County judge after the NCAA canceled his eligibility waiver.
“Kashie has been a standout teammate,” Lutz’s tweet read. “We’re doing everything in our power to support him and will continue to stand in his corner as he and his legal representation move forward. This matter is now in the hands of the court, and we remain hopeful for a positive resolution.”
Natt transferred to Oklahoma State this offseason from Sam Houston, where he was the Conference-USA Defensive Player of the Year. He has played only one season of Division-I basketball, but his college path stretches back well before that. He began at the JUCO level at Southern University-Shreveport, then moved to NAIA LSU-Alexandria, where he spent three seasons before landing at Sam Houston.
Lutz’s post was a quote of a statement from Darren Heitner, the lawyer working with Natt, who said the NCAA handled the waiver request the wrong way.
“The NCAA applied an undisclosed categorical policy to cancel a waiver request submitted on behalf of Kashie Natt instead of conducting the individualized review its own bylaws require or engaging with the extensive record of extraordinary circumstances OSU submitted,” Darren Heitner wrote. “We are seeking immediate injunctive relief so Kashie can resume full team activities and compete for OSU during the 2026-27 season.
He withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft in reasonable reliance on the NCAA’s process. Kashie is entitled to a fair adjudication on the merits.”
Natt, listed at 6-foot-3, averaged 10.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a pair of steals per game this past season at Sam Houston. Before that, he posted back-to-back double-double seasons at LSU-Alexandria, capped by a final year there in which he averaged 20.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
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