LAWRENCE, Kan. — Former Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. was granted a preliminary injunction Tuesday in Monroe County, New York, that could clear the way for him to play during the 2026-27 college basketball season.
Judge Daniel J. Doyle issued the ruling, which also prevents the NCAA from retroactively penalizing Council or any school that chooses to place him on its roster.
“Like we were with Tre (White), we’re happy for Melvin and today’s outcome,” Kansas coach Bill Self said in a statement. “We’ll continue to learn more about his immediate next steps and be in touch with him and his family.”
The length of the injunction remains uncertain. Doyle directed Council’s attorneys to prepare a proposed order and provide it to opposing counsel before submitting it to the court by Oct. 27. The NCAA could also choose to appeal the ruling.
It also remains unclear whether Council will return to Kansas.
Council entered the transfer portal following the 2025-26 season when it appeared his college eligibility had expired. His legal case was later moved from Douglas County to New York, broadening the scope beyond Kansas and the Big 12 Conference.
At the center of Council’s case is whether his time at junior college should count against his four seasons of NCAA eligibility. Council has argued that circumstances outside his control forced him to attend junior college after high school while he faced criminal charges from which he was later cleared.
Doyle criticized the NCAA’s handling of Council’s waiver requests, writing that there was no evidence the organization meaningfully considered his circumstances under an NCAA bylaw that allows additional review in cases involving extraordinary or extreme hardship.
“Could the NCAA have invoked their Bylaws to grant Council an additional year of eligibility in light of the circumstances outside his control emanating from the subsequently vacated guilty plea?” Doyle wrote. “Absolutely, yes.”
Doyle also sided with Council on the issue of his participation in the NBA Summer League, finding that NCAA bylaws do not prohibit such participation.
That issue had created uncertainty about whether Council could return to Kansas because of the Big 12’s rules regarding professional players. Kansas has since added Tre White, who also participated in the NBA Summer League, to its roster.
Council’s attorneys said in a statement that they appreciated the court’s review and were pleased the ruling would allow him an opportunity to compete during the 2026-27 season.
If Council returns to Kansas, he would appear to fill the Jayhawks’ final available roster spot.