St. John's Basketball Bolstered by Key Eligibility Rulings

St. John's will have a full roster for its preseason games following significant updates on the eligibility of two key players. On Tuesday afternoon, guard Quinn Ellis received clearance from the NCAA, and the temporary restraining order for Keyshawn Hall was upheld in court.

Hall, a transfer from Auburn, had his eligibility temporarily secured when a judge kept in place a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. The NCAA had sought to have this order removed. The legal challenge centers on the NCAA's decision not to include the 2022 high school class in its updated five-year eligibility rule. Hall's attorney argued that this exclusion constituted a breach of contract, citing similar cases in New York State that have ruled in favor of players from the 2022 class.

The timeline for a decision on Hall's request for a preliminary injunction remains uncertain, as it is at the judge's discretion.

Moments after the court proceedings, coach Rick Pitino received confirmation that Ellis, a British point guard, had been cleared by the NCAA after weeks of waiting. Ellis is considered one of the top international prospects to play college basketball in recent years. Pitino has compared Ellis's potential impact to that of former St. John's point guards Kadary Richmond and Daniss Jenkins.

Hall, a 6-foot-7 player, averaged 19.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game at Auburn last season. He also shot 37.9 percent from three-point range and was an All-SEC third-team selection.

The arrival of both players means Pitino will have his complete team available for Wednesday's exhibition opener against Drexel at Carnesecca Arena.