Lawsuits and the NCAA: College hoops uncertainty reigns, including at UNLV

The NCAA’s new “5-in-5” eligibility rules have added another layer of uncertainty to collegiate athletics that has stretched right into basketball season.

As players across the country pursue additional eligibility through legal challenges that have produced different outcomes from state to state leading up to this week’s openers, chaos reigns.

For the UNLV basketball programs, the inconsistency looks like this for two transfers each seeking a fifth year of eligibility: Runnin’ Rebels guard AJ Storr remains ineligible while awaiting a court decision in Texas, while Lady Rebels guard Marley Washenitz has been cleared by a California judge to compete.

Runnin’ Rebels coach Josh Pastner believes consistency across college basketball is essential as schools navigate the changing eligibility landscape.

“For the integrity of the game, two things have to be an even playing field,” Pastner said. “The rules of the game — everyone has got to be on the same rules — and two, everyone has got to be in the same eligibility.

“You can’t have one school or a bunch of schools having a bunch of guys eligible and then we don’t and or vice versa. I’m hoping that we get that cleared up here, but we are still waiting for the update on AJ.”

The NCAA’s new eligibility model allows for athletes to compete for up to five seasons within a five-year period.

The model was intended to cover athletes beginning with the high school class of 2023, replacing the traditional system of four seasons of competition within five years.

However, that distinction left athletes from the high school class of 2022 outside the new framework, prompting legal challenges from players. With cases unfolding in different states, court rulings have led to different outcomes for athletes seeking a fifth season.

While Pastner waits for a decision regarding Storr, a transfer from Ole Miss, the Rebels have faced and will face opposing players who have received eligibility through ongoing legal challenges.

BYU’s Jaxon Kohler, for example, was cleared to play on Oct. 20, four days before the Cougars’ exhibition matchup against UNLV. The former Coronado standout went on to score 19 points, including three 3-pointers, in BYU’s 89-77 win over the Rebels.

“Jaxon Kohler for BYU is an outstanding player who got cleared in the California case (Glancey v. NCAA),” Pastner said after the loss. “He made a big difference tonight, sort of like that Utah player (Trey Campbell). He got eligible the day of the game and made a big difference for them.

“I have said my piece about it … that’s where it is an interesting dynamic right now in college athletics.”

Pastner has also expressed his own opinion that Kansas forward Trey Kaufman-Renn, who was granted an injunction to play and is scheduled to face UNLV on Nov. 17, should not be eligible to return to college basketball after being selected in the NBA draft and playing in the NBA Summer League.

Washenitz, an Arizona State transfer who averaged 7.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game during the 2025-26 season, is entering Monday’s opener with the Lady Rebels eligible. She received a injunction in the same case as Kohler that prevents the NCAA from enforcing its eligibility rules to sideline them.

Lady Rebels coach Lindy La Rocque expressed gratitude that Washenitz is available but acknowledged the uncertainty that remains for athletes navigating the process.

“We are happy today because Marley can play today,” La Rocque said. “It does feel like every day can bring a new outcome. We’re hoping and praying that her eligibility sticks because she can have a really big impact on our team, and I know the men feel the same for AJ.

“I just think that this class deserves it. Let these kids play and move on to the next issue.”

The uncertainty extends beyond Las Vegas, affecting programs across the country as coaches work to determine which players will be available throughout the season.

Arizona men’s coach Tommy Lloyd has also dealt with the issue ahead of the Wildcats’ opener in Las Vegas through an eligibility situation with forward RJ Godfrey. A transfer from Clemson, Godfrey is among the players, including Storr, who withdrew from lawsuits in one state in an attempt to seek an injunction from a Texas judge.

“Everyone wants consistency,” Lloyd said. “Whether it is from court to court or consistency over time with how the NCAA has handled these issues. That is the main thing you want as a coach.

“I think just consistency for these kids that really are getting penalized for something that they had no part in, and when all the kids before them get five years and then moving forward all the kids in the future are going to get five years, it’s tough to isolate one group and not give it to them.”

Contact Donovan Hicks at [email protected]. Follow @HicksSports on X.