College Basketball's Five-for-Five Gold Rush: 10 Stars Ready to Cash In on a Rule Change

The NCAA is about to hand elite college basketball players a gift they never saw coming, and it could turn the entire sport upside down. A proposed five-for-five eligibility model is making serious waves, and if it passes before the 2026-27 academic year, some of the biggest names in the game could pocket way more money staying in college than they would make going pro. Here's what you need to know about the rule change that could reshape everything.

What This Five-for-Five Thing Actually Is

Here's the deal: the NCAA is considering a seismic shift in how athlete eligibility works. Under the current system, redshirts and medical redshirts work differently depending on your situation. The five-for-five model would eliminate all that complexity and give every athlete five years to play five seasons, with the clock starting when they graduate high school or turn 19, whichever comes first. The NCAA Division I Cabinet hasn't officially taken a formal position yet, but it's still very much on the table. An NCAA statement confirmed the cabinet supports the NCAA staff "continuing to discuss the idea with other stakeholders to gather additional feedback." President Donald Trump even issued an executive order this month calling for the model to be in place by August 1. If that timeline holds and the rule gets approved before next fall semester, the implications could be massive.

The Top 10 Players Poised to Benefit

Think about it: four-year players who exhausted their eligibility in 2026 could now pursue a fifth season, potentially making serious money in college rather than taking their chances at the professional level. Here's who stands to gain the most:

• Braden Smith (Purdue): Already the NCAA's all-time assists leader with an NBA Draft ranking of 44. Purdue could theoretically run it back with Smith, Fletcher Loyer, and Trey Kaufman-Renn, the trio responsible for 117 victories over their four years together.
• Zuby Ejiofor (St. John's): The 2026 Big East Player of the Year used his power to lead the Red Storm to consecutive double Big East titles. Ranked 43 in the NBA Draft, he'd be a surefire preseason All-American with another year in the college market.
• Ja'Kobi Gillespie (Tennessee): NBA Draft ranking 54. After starting at Belmont, thriving at Maryland for one year, and enjoying his best season at his home-state program, he fits the fringe All-American profile worth keeping around.
• Tarris Reed Jr. (UConn): NBA Draft ranking 38. Reed elevated his game as a senior, then played the best basketball of his career in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 19.5 points and 13.2 rebounds while helping the Huskies reach the national title game. With his size and skill in high demand, another college season might pay better than the NBA.
• Jaden Bradley (Arizona): NBA Draft ranking 50. Regardless of whether he deserved Big 12 Player of the Year, Bradley was undeniably one of the most critical guards in college basketball, providing veteran leadership to a youth-laden Arizona team that made the Final Four.

The five remaining spots on this top 10 list represent even more elite talent with similar opportunities to extend their college careers and capitalize on the booming NIL market. This rule change could fundamentally reshape how young stars think about their path to the NBA.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.