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Former UT basketball player Zakai Zeigler’s future with team hinges on ruling

Zeigler’s legal team and NCAA representatives appeared in court after the former player sued the organization to play for a fifth year and collect NIL compensation. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Zakai Zeigler’s legal team and NCAA representatives appeared in the U.S. District Court on Friday, after the former Tennessee basketball star asked for a preliminary injunction […]

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Zeigler’s legal team and NCAA representatives appeared in court after the former player sued the organization to play for a fifth year and collect NIL compensation.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Zakai Zeigler’s legal team and NCAA representatives appeared in the U.S. District Court on Friday, after the former Tennessee basketball star asked for a preliminary injunction in order to play for a fifth year and collect NIL compensation. 

Zeigler himself did not appear in court. No decision was made by Judge Katherine Crytzer, however, since the Vols are already practicing, she said she’ll bring a decision as soon as possible. 

The former basketball player’s lawsuit argues that an “arbitrary” NCAA rule limits student-athletes to participating in four seasons of competition. 

The lawsuit also said if Zeigler had been barred from playing for a single year through the NCAA redshirt system, he would still be eligible to play now. Friday, Little argued that through the system, the NCAA ultimately gets to decide if student-athletes have the chance to play during their fifth year of eligibility instead of the student-athletes themselves.

During the hearing, Crytzer asked whether the NCAA eligibility rule is commercial and how that impacts antitrust laws.

The lawsuit hinges on whether or not the NCAA rules violate the Sherman Act, constituting an “unreasonable restraint of trade” because when student-athletes’ eligibility ends, they are effectively locked out of the NIL market.

Zeigler‘s attorney, Alex Little, argued that by blocking him from playing another year and profiting from NIL opportunities, the rule has a direct economic impact. 

Little also said that Zeigler has a guaranteed spot on the basketball team, and he intends to play. The attorney also noted the NCAA couldn’t stop the former point guard’s entrance into the transfer portal, meaning that if Crytzer approves the injunction, he could play at a school other than UT. 

The NCAA argued that eligibility rules are non-commercial in nature and fall outside the scope of the Sherman Act.

Lawyers representing the NCAA questioned how incoming freshmen athletes might be affected if fifth-year players keep their spots on the roster.

As an example, the organization mentioned Ja’Kobi Gillespie, the Maryland transfer who committed to Tennessee in April as a point guard. The NCAA said he could lose his spot if Zeigler gets another year.

The organization also argued that the rules didn’t change the entire time Zeigler was playing for Tennessee, and he knew about the eligibility. The judge asked why Zeigler filed the lawsuit in May, and his legal team said that waiting until the end of the basketball season to file would give them a better understanding of how much money he’d be missing out on if he didn’t play a fifth year. 

A point of contention during the hearing happened when Little referenced Tennessee’s SB 0536. The law passed in April outlines how a student-athlete can receive compensation tied to their NIL, enrollment status, roster spot and other forms of payment available to similarly positioned athletes. However, the bill was not mentioned in the original paperwork provided to the judge. 

Crytzer ordered Zeigler’s legal team to provide a supplemental briefing of the Senate bill by June 7. The NCAA has to respond by June 8. 

10News asked Zeigler’s legal team for a comment, but lawyers said they won’t make a statement until additional documents and records are filed with the judge for review.



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Colleges and universities continue fundraising efforts with looming NIL changes

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – The college football season is now a little more than a month away, and when it starts, talk of NIL payments, how to raise money to pay athletes, and getting over the shock of just how much money is being poured into paying athletes will go away. I’ve said it before, […]

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – The college football season is now a little more than a month away, and when it starts, talk of NIL payments, how to raise money to pay athletes, and getting over the shock of just how much money is being poured into paying athletes will go away. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…Once the season starts, no one will care how money is raised or how much athletes are getting paid…The bottom line will be about winning or losing.

But let’s not be naive here. Texas Tech just signed a player, massive offensive lineman Felix Ojo, who was heavily pursued by Florida, and the school is shelling out big money. He reportedly will receive a three-year, $5.1M revenue sharing deal to sign with the Red Raiders. It almost sounds like when an NFL player signs a deal…You always hear it’s a three-year deal for $15M or something like that. Get used to it, because that’s what we are going to start to here when it comes to college players signing as well.

The house settlement is going to change college athletics, that I am sure of. A no doubter. But now, the challenge will be for schools to fund raise, to find creative ways to raise money to pay the athletes this crazy money. LSU is planning on selling jersey patch advertisements on their uniforms and is only waiting on NCAA approval to do it. According to cbssports.com, Kentucky, yes blue blood basketball school Kentucky, is pondering spinning off its athletic department and turning it into a limited liability company…LLC if you will, calling it Champions Blue that will report to the board of governors. The university has seen this work in the university’s health care sector so they’re trying to see if the model will work in athletics as well.

The genie is out of the bottle. No longer are we in a mode of whether or not we are paying college players…It is now a reality, and the bottom line now is for schools to find new revenue streams to keep up with NIL and be competitive in recruiting and paying players. Tennessee has done this, and now Kentucky is reportedly looking into public/private partnerships with real estate next to the stadium to form a kind of entertainment district that could house hotels, businesses and the like. They’re looking into having concerts much like the Garth Brooks concert that was held at Florida Field a while back to raise revenue as well.

The changes that have overtaken college athletics, in such a short and overwhelming time frame, have been massive, game-changing, forever altering the college game as we knew it for decades. Like it, don’t like it, those changes are here and now schools, administrators, coaches, and fans have to adapt to the changes to stay competitive or be left behind. The NFL model, with its general managers and contract negotiators, is now a reality in the big sports in college athletics, and it has also trickled down to the non-revenue sports as well as schools will now have to figure out how money is doled out to those sports that don’t produce a profit. All of this will be fascinating to watch unfold. I’m Steve Russell, that’s the Russell Report!

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Ojo’s Agent on NIL: ‘The Rules Changed Overnight’

Ojo’s Agent on NIL: ‘The Rules Changed Overnight’ Privacy Manager Link 0

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Ojo’s Agent on NIL: ‘The Rules Changed Overnight’



































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Florida State men’s basketball offseason thread #4: Hoops news, roster updates, portal entries, transfers, additions

Florida State basketball is undergoing massive changes across the board. Not only will a new coach be leading the Seminoles for the first time in 23 years but, in the day and age of the transfer portal, NIL, and yearly roster turnover, FSU is undergoing a massive roster overhaul. “There will be a lot of […]

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Florida State basketball is undergoing massive changes across the board.

Not only will a new coach be leading the Seminoles for the first time in 23 years but, in the day and age of the transfer portal, NIL, and yearly roster turnover, FSU is undergoing a massive roster overhaul.

“There will be a lot of guys that hit the portal, and that shouldn’t scare anyone. That’s by design, both for these players and myself,” Loucks told reporters during his second interview since becoming Florida State men’s basketball coach.

This article will be updated throughout the off-season, tracking player movements and who will be part of Loucks’ first team in Tallahassee.



FSU basketball offseason coaching and roster changes

New FSU Basketball coaching staff

  • Luke Loucks, Head Coach
  • Jim Moran, Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
  • Michael Fly, Assistant Coach
  • Gerald Gillion, Assistant Coach
  • Chris Kent, Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development

Transfer portal additions

Returning players

  • Guard/forward AJ Swinton
  • Forward Alier Maluk

High school recruits:

Departures

Transfer portal

NBA Draft

Eligibility

FSU Basketball Off-court personnel

  • Kelly Nielsen, Chief of Staff
  • Ben O’Donnell, Strength & Conditioning Coach/Director of Performance
  • Kyle Washington, Director of Video & Scouting
  • Justin Lindner, Assistant Director of Player Development
  • Perin Foote, Director of Basketball Operations
  • Ryan Shnider, Assistant Director of Basketball Operations
  • Terance Mann, Assistant General Manager

Find their full stories here: https://seminoles.com/staff-directory?category=mens-basketball



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Leonard Hamilton’s NIL lawsuit set to continue in Leon County court

Leonard Hamilton talks decision to resign at the end of the season, Notre Dame win Leonard Hamilton talks decision to resign at the end of the season, Notre Dame win Six former Florida State basketball players are suing former coach Leonard Hamilton for $1.5 million in unpaid NIL payments. The players allege Hamilton verbally promised […]

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  • Six former Florida State basketball players are suing former coach Leonard Hamilton for $1.5 million in unpaid NIL payments.
  • The players allege Hamilton verbally promised each of them $250,000 from his “business partners,” which they never received.
  • A judge denied Hamilton’s request to dismiss the case, and a tentative trial date is set for August 2026.

Former Florida State men’s basketball coach Leonard Hamilton’s request to dismiss the lawsuit against him that claims he failed to pay six former players has been denied by a Leon County Circuit Judge.

Hamilton was named in a lawsuit filed on Dec. 30 by Fort Lauderdale attorney Darren A. Heitner, who is representing Darin Green, Jr., Josh Nickelberry, Primo Spears, Cam’Ron Fletcher, De’Ante Green and Jalen Warley.

The case will move forward in Leon County Circuit Court after Judge Jonathan Sjostrom denied the legendary Seminoles head coach’s request to dismiss the lawsuit in a virtual hearing on June 7.

The six players all claimed that Hamilton verbally promised them $250,000 in NIL payments from his “business partners.” The players never received the money, and the lawsuit is seeking full compensation to be paid, a total of $1.5 million. All six players were members of FSU’s 2023-24 team.

A tentative August 2026 start date has been scheduled for the hearing.

What are the six players seeking from Hamilton

Heitner and the six former players will be seeking the following.

  • A decree that Hamilton’s actions caused Plaintiffs significant damages
  • Award Plaintiffs each $250,000 in compensatory damages (for a total of $1,500,000.00) based on the amounts they were individually promised and never paid.
  • Award Plaintiffs punitive and exemplary damages to assist in deterring and preventing similar conduct in the future.
  • Award Plaintiffs pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the highest statutory rate.
  • Award Plaintiffs any other relief that this Court deems just and proper.

The lawsuit vs. Leonard Hamilton

Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney



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EA Sports announces NCAA Basketball – The Champion Newspaper | 404-373-7779

After more than 15 years of silence, Electronic Arts (EA) Sports announced the return of its NCAA Basketball (NCAACB) series for game consoles, marking a special moment for myself, the gaming world, and college sports fans. The last NCAA Basketball game (NCAA Basketball 10) was released in 2009. Since then, fans of the series and […]

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After more than 15 years of silence, Electronic Arts (EA) Sports announced the return of its NCAA Basketball (NCAACB) series for game consoles, marking a special moment for myself, the gaming world, and college sports fans.

The last NCAA Basketball game (NCAA Basketball 10) was released in 2009. Since then, fans of the series and college hoops have been left without an experience that captures conference rivals, college mascots, and of course, March Madness. NBA 2K kept the basketball gaming community afloat, but fans and gamers are itching to immerse themselves back into the chaos that only college basketball can bring them.

One of the key reasons why NCAA Basketball was discontinued was due to legal concerns amateurism and the use of player likeness. But with the new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies in recent years, college athletes are now able to be compensated for appearing in games.

EA Sports has already embraced the NIL culture with the return of NCAA College Football (NCAACF) 25. The game was such a hit for EA that they already announced the release of NCAA College Football 26.

Like NCAACF 25, the upcoming NCAACB is expected to feature real players, real likeness, and real schools, all with players being fairly compensated. This is just another step that not only makes the game more realistic but also shows how valued athletes are in the generated revenue from these games.

The game is expected to release in the in 2027-2028. If released on time, we could see Cedar Grove High School’s wing Manny Green, Marist’s guard Kate Harpring, St. Pius’ guard Harris Reynolds and other basketball players who represented DeKalb through high school in the game.

The return of NCAACB to console is more than just a smart business move for EA Sports, it’s also a major win for fans, athletes, gamers, and the future of college sports media. With real rosters, modern game engines, and the excitement of college basketball in full swing, NCAACB is positioned to be a must-have for sports fans everywhere and I’ll be waiting, just like everyone else, to play it once again.

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Felix Ojo’s NIL Deal Signals a New Era in College Football Contracts

Share Tweet Share Share Email College football has always been compared to the NFL. You have some college football fans who don’t care for the NFL and vice versa. However, I fall into the category of enjoying both. I could sit there every Saturday and Sunday all day long and soak in as much football […]

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College football has always been compared to the NFL. You have some college football fans who don’t care for the NFL and vice versa. However, I fall into the category of enjoying both. I could sit there every Saturday and Sunday all day long and soak in as much football as I possibly can.

College football has always been different from the pros. From the traditions, long-standing rivalries, and atmospheres, college football just has something that the NFL doesn’t, despite being less popular overall.

 

However, the sport we all love is changing rapidly. Conferences are a jumbled mess, rivalries are going away, and don’t even get me started on the transfer portal.

Perhaps the biggest change has been players getting paid. It’s not uncommon for high-profile players to make millions of dollars in a single season. The same can be said for NFL players, but on a much larger scale, since everyone makes at least $840,000 or more.

But there was one thing that really grabbed my attention this past weekend when Texas Tech landed a commitment from five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo out of Mansfield, Texas. Now we all know that Felix is going to get paid, but what makes him so unique is the deal he has in place to come to Lubbock.

ESPN reported that his deal was a fully guaranteed, three-year, $5.1 million revenue share contract. However, others have reported that the guaranteed revenue share amount was about half that amount.

Then, you had reports stating that the deal is closer to $775,000 per year and that the deal could be renegotiated if NIL returns to the old way of doing things, akin to the Wild West.

No matter how you feel about players signing multi-year contracts, you’d better get used to it because this is going to be the new norm for highly touted recruits. I know Felix hasn’t played a down of college football yet, but he is getting treated like an NFL player with his deal.

 

There aren’t many multi-year deals out there that will change over time. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the best of the best sign a four-year deal for more money. Additionally, be prepared for incentives.

Much like the NFL, when a player makes an All-American team, All-Conference team, or wins an award, they will likely get a bonus of some kind. The better you play, the more you can earn.

I’m a pretty old-school person, and I am still getting used to the players getting paid. But hey, good for them for securing a bag while they can. And who knows, if players start signing multi-year deals, then maybe we won’t see so many of them in the transfer portal every year.

I would much rather see a player play at the same school rather than play for four different schools in four years. I think the sport is better off if schools offer more deals like this to keep them around, rather than just going to the highest bidder.





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