Why are players without NCAA eligibility entering the transfer portal?

[ASFN Admin]

With the transfer portal deadline approaching on Tuesday, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see an influx of names enter the portal. That's just the nature of today's college basketball.

But come Monday, several players who had no remaining NCAA eligibility decided to go portal'ing as well. Clemson's Ian Schieffelin, Kansas' Shakeel Moore and Minnesota's Lu'Cye Patterson are all in the portal despite exhausting the NCAA's eligibility clock.

There's a reason for that, though.

While it does look unlikely for this upcoming season, the House antitrust settlement (expected this month) could pave the way for the NCAA to give everyone a five-year eligibility clock. If this major change was enacted in time for the 2025-26 season, the past super-seniors could earn themselves yet another year in college.

NCAA members will not discuss whether or not players will receive five years of eligibility moving forward via legislation until after a final decision on the House Settlement has been made, per an NCAA official.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 21, 2025

Schieffelin tweeted that he entered the portal just to keep his options open in the off chance he gets an additional year.

While I am pursing my options on the professional level I have been advised, due to pending NCAA cases, to enter the portal on the very outside chance more eligibility is allowed.

— Ian Schieffelin (@ian_schieffelin) April 21, 2025

Plus, there was no rule saying a player needed remaining eligibility in order to enter the portal. So, it makes sense for those players to keep that open as a contingency.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why are players without NCAA eligibility entering the transfer portal?

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