Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler Included in California Injunction Seeking Fifth Year of Eligibility

Michigan State fan favorite Jaxon Kohler is one of the names on a packed list of players hoping to earn a fifth year of college basketball eligibility.

Per Jon Rothstein's post on X, "Attorneys Ryan Downton, James 'Sweet James' Bergener, and Darren Heitner tell me that they are currently filing an injunction in California for members of the HS Class of 2022 who have just completed their fourth year of competition."

On that list is one former Michigan State standout: Jaxon Kohler. Kohler was part of the 2022 recruiting class and is currently trying to continue his basketball career with the Utah Jazz during NBA Summer League.

Kohler has an outside chance of making the Jazz's roster, and everyone in East Lansing is rooting for him. That is, until this post surfaced. Now, Spartans fans may begin wondering what could be on the horizon for Kohler.

The injunction is being filed following the NCAA's new 5-in-5 rule, which grants student-athletes five years of eligibility within a five-year window—no more and no less. It's somewhat similar to when the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility during the COVID-shortened seasons.

However, the classes of 2021 and 2022 have been caught in the middle. Because the NCAA chose not to grandfather in those outgoing athletes, many players who otherwise could have benefited from the new rule have already exhausted their eligibility.

That hasn't stopped these three attorneys from stepping in on behalf of a group of players who may have been shortchanged. For many of these athletes, another season of college basketball could potentially mean earning significantly more through NIL opportunities than they would make playing professionally outside of the NBA. Even for players who eventually make an NBA roster, the difference could amount to hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of dollars compared to what they could have earned with one more season in college.

One Spartan, however, is noticeably absent from the list: Carson Cooper. Cooper has turned heads with his strong Summer League performance and doesn't appear interested in turning the clock back on his college career.

Much like I mentioned in my article about LJ Carson entering the transfer portal and making a case for Tom Izzo to pursue him, bringing Kohler back to East Lansing would come with its own challenges.

The Spartans are already at the maximum roster limit, so adding someone like Kohler for one final season would mean a difficult decision would have to be made. Someone would likely have to leave the roster to make room. If I had to guess, though, Izzo would probably be willing to make that decision if the opportunity presented itself.

Kohler has always been the perfect Izzo-type player and would most likely be welcomed back to East Lansing with open arms.

It still feels like a long shot, but the wheels appear to be in motion. As more updates become available, I'll be sure to provide them. Until then, Spartans fans will likely keep the door open and hope there is still a path for Kohler to wear the Green and White one more time.

For those wondering who else is included, Rothstein's post continued with the following list of players named in the California injunction: