St. John's basketball player Babacar Sane has secured a temporary restraining order from a Queens Supreme Court judge, granting him eligibility to play for the team this season. The ruling comes after the NCAA declared the Senegalese wing ineligible, citing his "intent to professionalize."
Judge Karina Alomar issued the order on Monday, pending a further hearing scheduled for October 1. This decision marks a significant legal win for the 6-foot-8 Sane in his fight against the NCAA's ruling.
Sane's legal team, comprised of attorneys Elliot Sol Abrams and Kareem R. Vesssup, filed a 55-page document on Friday. They argued that the NCAA's decision lacked supporting bylaw citations, did not address Sane's academic commitments or graduation plan, and left a field for case precedent blank. This legal challenge represents the initial step in Sane's pursuit of eligibility for the upcoming season.