In another piece of a growing offseason puzzle, Texas Tech transfer forward Jamichael Stillwell has be deemed ineligible after the NCAA won a stay on injunctions granted in Georgia.
LUBBOCK -- In the latest twist in an already wild offseason for Texas Tech men's basketball, a prospective Red Raider now finds his future with the team in jeopardy.
UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell was one of the top targets for Grant McCasland after announcing plans to suit up for a fifth year.
Texas Tech was successful in its efforts to lure the All-Big 12 talent away from the Knights and following a win in the courtroom, all signs pointed to Stillwell being one of the latest stars to shine in Lubbock.
However, much like many other issues in the modern age of college athletics, it does not appear that the situation will have such a simple conclusion after all.
Stillwell's original case stemmed from the revised eligibility guidelines implemented by the NCAA this season that ensures athletes five years to compete at the collegiate level.
For those in the recruiting class of 2022, they felt that they should be able to benefit from the additional year that would have otherwise been given if they were a mere year younger.
The NCAA felt otherwise and has repeatedly sought reversals in the decisions that have allowed Stillwell and others to gain the extra year.
In the latest update to the ongoing response from the NCAA, a Georgia appeals court ruled in its favor and granted a stay on the previously issued injunctions.
This move marks a complete shift in the trajectory of these athletes from the Peach State that were initially covered by injunctions within the state, including Stillwell.
Stillwell finds himself in the same position as fellow Red Raider Donovan Atwell, who announced his return to Lubbock only to be halted by another stay being granted in Colorado.
Unlike Atwell, Stillwell had already sought to get a personal injunction in Georgia instead of relying on the blanket ruling by a judge in Colorado that sparked the entire wave.
Atwell has since filed a lawsuit in Lubbock County seeking a temporary injunction, with an official hearing date set for October 15 after being rescheduled from September 11.
Just as Atwell followed in Stillwell's footsteps, he can be expected to try his hand at a lawsuit in Lubbock with no stay yet to be issued within the state.
If the NCAA does pick up a win in the Lone Star State, it would be a major blow to Atwell, Stillwell and others and could signal the start of another battle altogether.
With the deadline to the season growing closer after each passing day, the Red Raiders will attempt to get this latest wrinkle ironed out in time for tipoff, as Texas Tech profiles as one of the nation's best squads if it can get all its pieces onto the court.
