‘Gotta go back to court next month’: St. John’s star sums up state of college basketball

St. John's basketball star Babacar Sané faced off against Drexel in an exhibition game at Carnesecca Arena, where he put up 17 points and 8 rebounds, showcasing his 3-point shot while overpowering his smaller defenders. However, Sané is currently facing a court date on November 9 regarding his college eligibility. At the age of 6-foot-7, Sané is a native of Senegal and signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Utah Jazz, but has not yet played in an NBA game.

The NCAA argues that he is ineligible for college basketball, but Sané has filed a lawsuit against them. Sané is one of about 100 players eligible to play college basketball this season via court orders. Sané's situation highlights the current state of college basketball, as players, rosters, and coaches await rulings from various courts following the NCAA's initial approval of the "5-in-5" eligibility model in June 2026.