Former NC State basketball players sue NCAA, hoping to gain extra year of eligibility

A group of 52 former college basketball players filed a lawsuit in North Carolina state court this week, challenging the NCAA regarding eligibility rules. Among the plaintiffs are three athletes who played for NC State last season: Darrion Williams, Tre Holloman, and Ven-Allen Lubin. These players exhausted their eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year and are now seeking a court order to gain an additional season of play.

The core of the dispute stems from new age-based eligibility standards introduced by the NCAA in June. The updated policy grants a five-year window for athletes, but it specifically excludes those who finished their eligibility in the 2025-26 season. Players from various North Carolina institutions, including Wake Forest, High Point, and UNC-Wilmington, have joined the legal action to contest this cutoff.

Legal representatives for the athletes argue that the current rules unfairly prevent experienced players from returning to the court. With the current landscape of college sports allowing for significant earnings, an extra year represents both a financial opportunity and a chance to improve professional draft prospects. The plaintiffs also seek to block the NCAA from penalizing universities that accept transfers outside of established windows, specifically because the rule change occurred after the typical spring transfer period.

The NCAA Board of Directors maintains its stance that the new regulations provide a sustainable model for the long term. Despite facing similar litigation in other states, including an ongoing case in Ohio where a judge recently granted a preliminary injunction, the organization stated it does not intend to alter the current application of the rules. The outcome of the North Carolina case remains pending as the court reviews the requests for relief.