Potential Cincinnati Additions Cleared to Play as Court Grants Eligibility Injunction
Cincinnati could receive a significant boost to its 2026-27 men’s basketball roster after an Ohio judge issued a preliminary injunction allowing 15 players an additional season of NCAA eligibility.
Among the athletes affected are potential Bearcats MJ Collins and Kolby King, both members of the 2022 recruiting class. The ruling allows them to compete during the upcoming season while their lawsuit against the NCAA continues through the courts.
The court approved the players’ request for relief related to NCAA eligibility rules and exempted them from transfer portal requirements, noting that players who believed they were ineligible had no reason to enter the portal. However, the judge denied the plaintiffs’ request for relief under the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act. The ruling is temporary rather than final, with a case management conference scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026.
Cincinnati intentionally left two scholarship spots open in anticipation of a favorable ruling, positioning the program to add Collins and King if they receive final clearance.
The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Darren Heitner and Ryan Downton, challenges the NCAA’s newly adopted age-based eligibility model. The plaintiffs seek to prevent the NCAA from denying them the opportunity to compete in the 2026-27 season solely because they have already played four seasons.
Under the NCAA’s new framework, an athlete’s eligibility clock begins when they first enroll full-time in college or at the start of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever comes first. Beginning with the 2027 recruiting class, all athletes will follow the age-based model. Current players with remaining eligibility after the 2025-26 season can choose whichever eligibility system is more favorable.
If Collins and King officially join the Bearcats, they would provide experienced additions to head coach Jerrod Calhoun’s first Cincinnati roster.
Collins is coming off a standout season at Utah State, where he earned All-Mountain West Second Team honors after averaging 17.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 48.7% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range. The 6-foot-4 wing started all 36 games and led the Aggies in scoring.
King also contributed at Utah State, averaging 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while connecting on 39% of his three-point attempts. The 6-foot-1 guard is expected to strengthen Cincinnati’s backcourt depth with his experience.
With the injunction in place, Collins and King are expected to be officially added to Cincinnati’s roster in the coming days, giving the Bearcats a complete scholarship roster heading into the 2026-27 season.
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