The Class of 2022 Is Not Going Quietly, And Their Lawsuit Could Rip the NCAA's New Eligibility Rule Apart

Alright, Emerald City! You thought college basketball was just doing its thing, rolling along, right? Wrong. The NCAA just cooked up this brand-new five-year eligibility rule, and before the ink was even dry, fifteen players fired back with a massive lawsuit. This isn't just a minor squabble, folks. This is a potential earthquake for college hoops, and it all kicks off with former Penn State forward Josh Reed leading the charge.

NCAA's New Rule? Not So Fast, Says the Lawsuit

So, here’s the deal. On Tuesday, the NCAA approved a new eligibility structure. Basically, it allows athletes to play five seasons, but they have to wrap it up within five years of either high school graduation or their 19th birthday. Gone are redshirts, gone are waivers for injuries, unless you’re talking about religious missions, maternity leave, or military service. Previously, you had five years to play four seasons, and everyone knew the drill. But then, less than 24 hours later on Wednesday, these 15 players, led by Reed, slapped the NCAA with a lawsuit in Hamilton County, Ohio, according to Cincinnati.com. They want a judge to block this whole rule from going into effect and let them play the 2026-27 season. Not only that, the petition, reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, also seeks an injunction so these players can go to *any* team they choose without hitting the transfer portal, and schools won't get penalized for signing them. Talk about a bombshell!

Why Josh Reed's Story Is Key Here

Josh Reed is front and center for a reason. He spent his first three seasons hooping it up for Cincinnati, then balled out his senior year (2025-26) with Penn State. That was his fourth and "final" year under the old system, and he’s part of the Class of 2022, which is stuck in this weird gap between

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the COVID-era extra seasons and the NCAA’s new five-in-five rule. But this dude found his rhythm! For Penn State, he played in 32 games, starting 31 of them, and averaged a solid 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 28.2 minutes per game. He was shooting 48.8% from the field, including 36.8% from downtown. He hit double figures 21 times, even dropping a career-high 25 points in an upset win over Iowa on February 28. Contrast that with his Cincinnati days where he averaged 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12.3 minutes over 97 games, and you see a player hitting his stride late. He’s played 129 games in four seasons, and he wants his fifth, plain and simple. Lawyers for these players are planning to file similar lawsuits in five more states. This fight is just getting started, with a full hearing on the injunction in Ohio set for July 1.

The Ripple Effect: What's Next For College Hoops?

This lawsuit isn't just about one guy or one class. It impacts the entire ecosystem of college basketball. Think about how rosters get built, how player development timelines shift. The source points out that this five-in-five rule could affect seven current Penn State players: Roberts Blums, Tim Oboh, Ivan Jurić, Chris Lotito, Aleksandar Zecevic, Andy Gemao, and Grant Spacciapolli. And what about the international guys? Andy Gemao from the Philippines and Aleksandar Zecevic from Serbia both turn 20 before their freshman seasons. Plus, Penn State has Roko Prkačin, who’ll be 24 in November, and François Wibaut, who’s 21, as pending additions. How this new rule applies to older international players is a massive question mark nobody has an answer for yet. The NCAA opened this can of worms, and now these players are ready to prove that the rules need to be fair for everyone. Get ready for some fireworks, because July 1 is coming fast, and the future of college eligibility hangs in the balance.

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