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Melvin Council Jr. has secured a court victory over the NCAA and will return to the Kansas Jayhawks for the 2026-27 men's basketball season, the program announced via social media on Sunday morning. Council, a fan favorite, recently obtained an injunction in Monroe County, New York, granting him a sixth year of college eligibility.
On Saturday night, Council playfully teased fans by suggesting he was deciding among Kentucky, LSU, and Michigan, but soon after, he confirmed his true intention to return to Lawrence. "After being granted a preliminary injunction to play this season, Melvin Council will begin to practice with us immediately, like Tre White did last week," Kansas head coach Bill Self said in a statement. "Melvin was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season, and had a major impact on our program both on and off the court. He brings a lot of experience and leadership to our roster, and we are excited to welcome him back."
Council, who previously played at Monroe College, Wagner, and St. Bonaventure, served as the emotional leader and point guard for the 2025-26 Kansas team, averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. His top scoring performance came on the road at N.C. State, where he poured in 36 points in a one-point victory and connected on nine of his 37 total 3-pointers for the season. He also delivered clutch late-game efforts against TCU, Colorado, Arizona, and others, while endearing himself to KU fans by antagonizing rivals in matchups with Missouri and Kansas State.
Following the Jayhawks' second-round exit, Council impressed at the Portsmouth Invitational for outgoing seniors but went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. He then played for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Summer League, averaging 8.0 points and 3.7 assists per game in three appearances. Not long after, he sued the NCAA in Douglas County before dropping the suit and moving to his home state of New York, aiming to broaden his options beyond KU.
Council's lawsuit argues that neither of his two years at a junior college should count toward his NCAA eligibility, partly because he had no choice but to attend a JUCO while facing pending criminal charges of which he was later exonerated. Although he did not initially receive a temporary restraining order in New York, he was granted an injunction on Tuesday by Judge Daniel J. Doyle, who took issue with the NCAA's handling of Council's waiver requests shortly after the 2025-26 season concluded.
The duration of the injunction remains uncertain. Judge Doyle instructed Council's lawyers to draft an order and circulate it to opposing counsel before submitting it to the Court by October 27, 2026. There has been no further activity since, and the NCAA does not appear to have filed an appeal of Doyle's injunction.
Once Council begins classes in the second eight-week session of KU's fall semester, he and Tre White—eligible via his own injunction in Indiana—will occupy the Jayhawks' 14th and 15th roster spots, the final two available. Self has stated there is no loophole that would allow Kansas to exceed that number.
On the court, Council is expected to compete for a starting role and significant minutes, vying with players such as freshman guard Taylen Kinney and Toledo transfer sophomore guard Leroy Blyden Jr.
Key Analysis
Council's return provides Kansas with a seasoned playmaker and leader who already knows the system. His legal victory sets a precedent that could influence future eligibility cases, though the temporary nature of the injunction leaves room for uncertainty. The addition of both Council and White fills Kansas's roster to the limit, giving the Jayhawks a deep and experienced backcourt for the upcoming season.
Originally reported by kusports.