NCAA Faces Lawsuit Over Eligibility Rules for Fifth-Year Athletes
St. John's transfer Keyshawn Hall is suing the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility, challenging the organization's revised eligibility rules.
Keyshawn Hall, a high-scoring transfer committed to St. John’s, has filed a lawsuit seeking a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA. The suit, lodged in Queens Supreme Court, aims to secure injunctive relief for Hall to play for the Red Storm in the upcoming season.
Hall is among the student-athletes from the 2022 high school class who were not included in the NCAA's new eligibility framework, which grants players five years of eligibility. Hall's legal team contends that the NCAA's modification of eligibility rules, specifically the exclusion of the 2022 class, constitutes a breach of contract.
The lawsuit asserts that the NCAA's revised model is slated to take effect for the academic year beginning August 1, 2026. According to the suit, the 2026-27 season commences after this date, making the application of the revised model prospective. The legal filing argues that, based on the rule's wording, any student-athlete within five years of initial full-time enrollment, who was 19 or younger at the time of enrollment, should be eligible for the 2026-27 season.