Tennessee’s frontcourt picture got murkier this week, with forward Jalen Washington ruled ineligible to play in Thursday’s exhibition against Xavier while he continues to wait on a fifth year of eligibility.
Washington made the move from Vanderbilt to Tennessee in early August after a federal court in Tennessee ruled on July 31 that he and 16 other players challenging the NCAA’s new “five-for-five” eligibility rules would suffer “immediate and irreparable harm” if they were denied another season. But that relief did not last long.
On Aug. 26, Tennessee’s Court of Appeals issued an order staying the temporary injunction, which wiped out the extra year for now.
The 6-foot-10, 244-pound post player has stayed with the program and taken part in all team activities, even as the legal fight continues. His lawsuit remains pending, and the Court of Appeals said it granted the stay after weighing all relevant factors, “in particular, the NCAA's likelihood of success on the merits based on the legal issues presented.”
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes addressed the situation during the program’s media day on Oct. 6, saying, “When you look around the country and see that there's 150-some players that are eligible to play and another 200-some that can't based on where they have filed their court cases, it doesn't seem fair when everybody is under the same association with the NCAA," he said during Tennessee's media day on Oct. 6.
"I just don't understand. I mean, I understand it, but I don't think it's fair.
You'd like to think that if there are 150 eligible, the other guys should be eligible regardless of where they filed their cases. We hope it works out for (Washington).”
Barnes also said Washington is still waiting on the Tennessee case and noted a possible legal path in another state. “He's waiting to hear the Tennessee case, obviously, to see what that's going to lead to," Barnes said.
"He's from Indiana, and they cleared their players that play there. So maybe, I don't know how it works, from a legal standpoint, could he refile there, which could be a possibility."
On the floor, Washington gave Vanderbilt a productive season last year. He averaged 8.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 36 games, both career highs, and started nine times in his lone year with the Commodores.
He shot 56.3% from the field, 74.1% at the line and 29.4% from three-point range, connecting on 10 of 34 attempts. He also led the team with 46 blocks and ranked second with 72 offensive rebounds.
Eight of his nine starts came in SEC play, where he averaged 8.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 22.1 minutes over 18 conference games while blocking just over one shot per game.
Asked how the uncertainty affects Tennessee’s front line if Washington remains out, Barnes was direct: “It's a concern," Barnes responded. "It a concern.
It changes some things with us, but we're trying to prepare both ways. Hoping for Jalen that it works because he deserves it.”
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