A Colorado judge sent shockwaves by granting an injunction for the class of 2022, but she recently provided more context behind the move. How does this impact Texas Tech's trio looking to benefit?
LUBBOCK -- Following a wave of attention from her ruling to grant a blanket injunction to members of the class of 2022 seeking an extra year of eligibility, Colorado Judge Charlotte Sweeney released some clarifications.
According to Judge Sweeney, her decision does not open a new transfer portal window nor does it allow for any athletes outside of this specific recruiting class to gain the additional season.
There were other points in her ruling, but those were the most prominent facets of the further breakdown from Judge Sweeney.
With these new guidelines in place from her ruling, where does that leave the three potential main benefactors of this decision linked to Texas Tech?
To immediately kill all suspense, it honestly does not change very much of the outlook for the trio.
Starting things off with the only member that is for sure suiting up for the Red Raiders if the injunction stands, Jamichael Stillwell checks nearly all the boxes to fit inside the parameters set by Judge Sweeney's clarification.
The former UCF forward was a part of the class of 2022 and was already in the transfer portal prior to any sort of notion of a class-wide injunction for this group.
So barring any sort of successful appeal from the NCAA, Stillwell should be more than covered by the initial ruling. But for good measure, he still has an individual lawsuit pending for a personal injunction and that hearing took place on July 30.
Next up, Darrion Williams has been rumored to be plotting a reunion with the Red Raiders after a lone season at NC State. Much like Stillwell, Williams' case was seemingly untouched by the recent additions.
While he would be transferring from Raleigh back to Lubbock, Williams also entered the portal long during its usual timeframe. He also is a part of the class specified by Judge Sweeney, so another good sign for the former and hopefully future Red Raider.
That brings us to the piece most directly affected by the recent revisions, Donovan Atwell. The only part of the trio that played for Texas Tech last season, Atwell now has the slimmest, but still reasonable, chances of making a return.
The main reason for that is his time spent in the NBA Summer League this year after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Chicago Bulls. While he impressed in Las Vegas, no word has emerged on his future with the franchise.
Despite this, Atwell's summer stint moves him out of the requirements to be covered by the ruling from Colorado. However, Atwell is still part of another collective lawsuit in North Carolina, alongside Williams, which is set to be heard on August 5.
After a rough look at the start of the offseason, Texas Tech is shaping up to be the biggest winner heading into next season, with low odds that their pursuit of these three game-changers will be halted.
