A landmark federal court ruling could spark a roster shakeup in Coral Gables as former stars like Malik Reneau gain an unexpected window to reclaim collegiate eligibility.
MIAMI, Fla. – On Friday night, the college sports world received groundbreaking news.
First reported by Sam C. Ehrlich, Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the United States District Court of Colorado has granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to declare all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted four seasons of eligibility this spring.
Several players who apply are exploring the opportunity to return to college sports, including former Florida Gators guard Xavian Lee. However, a return to the Gainesville program is unlikely and he intends to enter the transfer portal.
Given the ruling, former Miami Hurricanes guard Tre Donaldson (Miami Heat) and center Ernest Udeh Jr. (Cleveland Cavaliers) are among those eligible to return to college basketball for a fifth year. It’s unlikely both two-way signees will look back to the Coral Gables program, but a name to watch out for is Malik Reneau.
The Miami native returned to the Sunshine State following three years at Indiana and entered the transfer portal in mid-March of 2025. He played a pivotal role in first-year head coach Jai Lucas’ historic 26-9 turnaround season. Reneau averaged a team-high 18.9 points on 54 percent shooting, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in 35 games (all starts). He was the only senior to receive All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team honors.
After going undrafted, Reneau signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Orlando Magic. He only played extended minutes in one Las Vegas Summer League game against the Boston Celtics. Reneau scored 18 points on 85.7 percent shooting, three rebounds, a steal, and a block in 18 minutes. He went a perfect three-for-three from behind the arc.
The Hurricanes currently have 13 players on the roster. Reneau could return, but he would likely cut the minutes of freshman Caleb Gaskins and Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode. Also, the program is shifting to build around sophomores Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson.
If Reneau were to return to college basketball for the 2026-27 season, exploring the transfer portal is the more reliable option. Another program could use him as a scoring option for its frontcourt. Reneau can defend, handle the ball, and make shots on all three levels.
The Hurricanes are looking to take another step forward in contention, such as the ACC Crown and National Championship. Although Reneau laid a new foundation for the Coral Gables men's basketball program, a revisit of the recent past should be ruled out.
