A social media bombshell revealed an extra year for Devan Cambridge, but a twist exposed a playful deception. Was he staying or was it an April Fools' prank?
Sixth-year senior forward Devan Cambridge was a solid piece of UCF's bench this past season, providing energy and experience off the bench for head coach Johnny Dawkins' squad.
Cambridge averaged 5.4 points and 3.5 rebounds for UCF this season, averaging just over 17 minutes per game.
The veteran forward recorded 11 games scoring eight or more, while providing versatility on the defensive end.
He displayed this in UCF's 82-73 victory over Kansas State in mid-January, notching 11 points, six rebounds and two assists to go along with a steal and block. Cambridge shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, knocking down his only 3-point attempt.
Following the Knights' 75-71 loss against the UCLA Bruins in the first round of March Madness, Cambridge ended his career tied for third in all-time games played, Roundtable's Demetrius Montero reported earlier this week.
Cambridge has appeared in 174 games, making stops at Auburn, Arizona State and Texas Tech before joining the Black and Gold. This matches former North Carolina and Arizona guard Caleb Love, who is currently wrapping up his rookie season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
However, Cambridge is not done yet, or so it seemed. Wednesday, April 1, the UCF Men's Basketball Instagram posted that Cambridge was granted an eighth year of eligibility.
On the final slide, Cambridge was depicted in a suit with his hands open across his chest, paying homage to The Wolf of Wall Street.
"I'm not leaving," Cambridge said to the NCAA in the comedic post.
The UCF social media teams left the post up for hours without clarifying whether Cambridge had actually earned an additional year, leaving myself and UCF fans wondering.
However, around noon on April Fools Day, the page added a comment reading "Always check your calendarā¦#Aprilfools."
If eligible, Cambridge would have been a valuable returner for the Knights, who should retain some major contributors from last season after returning zero scoring production the year prior.
One big question mark is senior forward Jamichael Stillwell, who may be able to receive additional eligibility due to his time in junior college (not a joke).
Stillwell began his career as a JUCO product, playing his freshman season with Miami Dade College and his sophomore year at Butler Community College.
Following many football players' disgruntlements, including star Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, "the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved an extra year of eligibility only in 2025-26 for student-athletes who previously competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years (which includes junior colleges) and would have exhausted their eligibility after the 2024-25 season," according to the NCAA's official statement.
Fifth-year senior Themus Fulks also lobbied for his long-time teammate to get another year. "GIVE STILLWELL ANOTHER YEAR," Fulks emphatically wrote while tagging the NCAA on X.
Junior forward Jordan Burks is also a major target for Dawkins to bring back, as he enjoyed a breakout season. Burks was third on the team in scoring, averaging 13.3 points per game on 37.3% shooting from 3-point range.
Burks was also UCF's best player against UCLA, scoring a game-high 22 points while making six 3-pointers. Following the game, Burks gave encouraging remarks regarding his future, but said he would need time to discuss with his representation and loved ones.
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