newsjournalonline
UCF wants Jamichael Stillwell back.
But his return looks increasingly unlikely - UCF basketball player Jamichael Stillwell may not return to the team even if he gains an extra year of NCAA eligibility.
- Stillwell posted a message on social media suggesting a departure, and there is reported mutual interest with Texas Tech.
- UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins expressed a desire for Stillwell to return but acknowledged the player is keeping his options open.
- Stillwell is part of a lawsuit seeking an additional year of eligibility after playing two seasons of junior college basketball.
If Jamichael Stillwell obtains a fifth year of NCAA eligibility, he is increasingly likely to spend it somewhere other than UCF.
Stillwell posted the following message onto his X account on June 23: "I'm sorry Knight nation , just know yall have a spot in my heart forever," along with heartbreak and sword emojis.
As part of a lawsuit filed in Cobb County, Georgia, the 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward "may play at the University of Central Florida, which has a roster spot available for him." However, Benjamin Golan a reporter for RedRaiderSports.com, part of the On3/Rivals network wrote there is mutual interest between Stillwell and notoriously free-spending Big 12 counterpart Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders have just 10 players on their 2026-27 roster, perhaps saving additional spots pending the fallout of the NCAA's recently adopted "five-for-five" rule.
CBS Sports reported last April that Texas Tech was believed to be among a group of schools operating with a men's basketball budget exceeding $10 million.
Stillwell started 30 games as UCF returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.
He averaged 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the Knights in 2025-26, ranking second in the conference in offensive boards per game (3.35) and registering nine double-doubles.
Stillwell's change of heart caught the attention of Themus Fulks, his former teammate at both UCF and Milwaukee.
Fulks, who recently competed in the NBA's Summer League with the Los Angeles Clippers, tweeted, "$$ over loyalty ???" with a pair of raised-eyebrow emojis.
UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins confirmed July 22 in an exclusive interview with The News-Journal that he would "love" to have Stillwell return for the 2026-27 campaign.
He stopped short, however, of expecting to have him back, considering the Atlanta native entered the transfer portal to keep all options open.
"I would love for him to be back and a part of what we are building," Dawkins said.
"He was such an amazing part of it for us last year.
I would love that opportunity for him, but I couldn't say (I expect him on our team) because there are so many factors with regards to that being able to happen.
We love Stillwell, and we know Stillwell loves us.
That's for sure." UCF retained five players that finished the 2025-26 season with the program starting center John Bol, 3-point shooting specialist Carmelo Pacheco, backup center Elijah Hulsewe, second-year guard Tanner Jones and Oklahoma State transfer Arturo Dean, who signed in January and redshirted.
The NCAA is seeking a reversal of a temporary injunction granted by an Ohio judge to 15 players, including Cincinnati transfer MJ Collins and Xavier's Filip Borovicanin.
The Division I board of directors doubled down in a statement Thursday.
"We are encouraged by the Division I membership's broad support of the age-based eligibility rules," the board said.
"The design of the new rules, including its implementation strategy, was thoughtful and well-informed, and was unanimously supported by the Cabinet, including its student-athlete members.
"The board has no plans to modify their application, notwithstanding a series of lawsuits recently filed on behalf of student-athletes with no remaining eligibility.
We look forward to ensuring that the age-based eligibility rules are enforced consistently so that all institutions play by the same rules, like all participants in sports." Dawkins understands the gray area, particularly in light of former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia's lawsuit.
Pavia, a 2025 Heisman Trophy finalist, and his representation argued that the NCAA's rule that counts a player's time in junior college toward his overall eligibility violated antitrust law and unfairly limited his ability to make money from his name, image and likeness.
Stillwell played two seasons of JUCO basketball one apiece at Miami-Dade College and Butler Community College in Kansas.
"Guys are weighing their options based on what they're seeing.
People in the past may have gotten opportunities, and they're looking back at, thinking, 'Wait a minute, my story is similar to that story.' And they're right in that regard," Dawkins said.
"If someone can tell them there's a difference, then maybe nothing will happen.
But if there's no difference, can you blame a young person for exploring that in these times that we're living in? It's an opportunity to continue your education, get another year of eligibility, to play a sport you love, to graduate or get a graduate degree, and financially there are opportunities there for these student-athletes also.
"I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know what can happen legally.
But to challenge it, based on what they're probably seeing other student-athletes obtain, I don't think there is anything wrong with that.
And then let the court systems work it out.
That's what they're there for.".