LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Melvin Council Jr. is set to return to the University of Kansas after a New York state court granted him a preliminary injunction allowing him to play a seventh season, the university announced on Sunday. Coach Bill Self shared the news on X, indicating that Council would begin practicing immediately, following in the footsteps of Tre White, who also recently received a similar injunction.
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Self lauded Council’s impact on the team, stating, "Melvin was the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season and had a major impact on our program both on and off the court. He brings a lot of experience and leadership to our roster, and we are excited to welcome him back."
Tre White was among several players recently granted an injunction in Indiana, which permits them to play a fifth season due to changes in NCAA eligibility rules adopted in June. Council, who was the starting point guard for the Jayhawks last season, averaged 12.7 points, five rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pound player from Rochester, New York, began his collegiate career at a junior college in 2020. He redshirted his first year, played two seasons at junior college, and then proceeded to play one season each at Wagner, St. Bonaventure, and Kansas.
According to court documents, Council faced significant challenges early in his life, having been arrested and charged with first- and third-degree rape while in high school. His attorneys noted that he attended junior college because four-year institutions wouldn’t accept him; however, he was later exonerated.