A landmark California legal filing could grant the former Michigan State captain an unexpected fifth year of NCAA eligibility, potentially complicating his professional path with the Jazz.
Utah Jazz big man Jaxon Kohler, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the team shortly after the 2026 NBA Draft, is now part of a developing legal battle that could reshape NCAA eligibility rules for the high school class of 2022. As reported by 247Sports’ Justin Thind, attorneys Ryan Downton, James Bergener and Darren Heitner filed an injunction in California on behalf of athletes who “just wrapped up their fourth year of competition.” As a result, Kohler is one of the names included in the filing.
The case centers on the NCAA’s new “five‑in‑five” eligibility model, which grants athletes five years of competition based on either their 19th birthday or first enrollment date. However, as Thind notes, the rule “stops short of covering seniors who already used up their four seasons in 2025‑26,” leaving Kohler and dozens of others in a gray area. The injunction argues that this graduating class should be granted the additional year the model was designed to provide.
Kohler finished his Michigan State career this spring as a senior captain, averaging 12.5 points and 8.9 rebounds for a team that reached the Sweet Sixteen. Thind writes that Kohler “closed out his MSU career this spring as a senior captain,” and his strong finish helped launch him into NBA workouts before landing his Exhibit 10 agreement with Utah.
A successful injunction wouldn’t automatically pull Kohler out of the Jazz system, but it would give him the option to return to college basketball. As Thind explains, “a win in California wouldn't automatically guarantee that he would take advantage of the eligibility and leave the NBA ecosystem, but it would effectively put him in position to have the option.” Any decision would depend on further rulings, NCAA responses and Kohler’s own priorities.
The ripple effects at Michigan State are already being considered as the Spartans added Charlotte transfer Anton Bonke, incoming five‑star center Ethan Taylor and rising redshirt sophomore Jesse McCulloch to compete at the five. With the position already logjammed, Kohler, who is a Utah native, may not feel the need to return. Thind notes it’s “unclear how these dominoes would impact the roster, if at all.”
For the Jazz, the situation is relatively straightforward, as Kohler is under contract, in their development pipeline and expected to compete for a spot, most likely with the Salt Lake City Stars. But the legal battle unfolding in California introduces a rare scenario to keep an eye on.
