NCAA Thursday statement further clouds whether UC's Jamille Reynolds will play

University of Cincinnati forward Jamille Reynolds and other two-time transfer athletes will be able to play, temporarily, after a federal judge on Wednesday ruled the NCAA can't enforce its transfer limit rule while it's challenged in court.

Northern District of West Virginia Judge John Preston Bailey granted a 14-day temporary restraining order that allows such transfers to immediately participate during that period. Reynolds has missed the team's first nine games.

Specifically, Bailey blocked the NCAA from enforcing the part of the rule that requires the player to sit out for a year until a hearing on the preliminary injunction is heard Dec. 27. Then, the judge will consider the states’ motion for a preliminary injunction to extend the order until a full trial can be held.

In a statement to the Associated Press, the NCAA said, "As a result of today's decision impacting Division I student-athletes, the Association will not enforce the year-in residency requirement for multiple-time transfers and will begin notifying member schools."

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who led the seven-state coalition that filed the lawsuit last week, applauded the decision as “only fair and right.”

“Competition is good,” Yost said. “Thank you, Judge Bailey, for recognizing that and allowing the kids to play.”

Jamille Reynolds could suit up for UC basketball

Swain Wood of the Morningstar Law Group that represents several student-athletes, including UC's Aziz Bandaogo, said Wednesday's decision "strongly signals" the court will extend the order into a preliminary injunction.

That would extend the court time for Reynolds and by all indications of the ruling wouldn't involve any penalty to Reynolds or the school from the NCAA.

"As we've said before, the NCAA should suspend its second-transfer ban, go back to the drawing board and implement rules that comply with the law," Wood said.

Though cleared, what is UC's stance on Jamille Reynolds?

Cincinnati Athletics issued the following late Wednesday:

"Given today’s temporary restraining order issued by Judge John Preston Bailey, we are evaluating the situation as it pertains to men’s basketball student-athlete Jamille Reynolds. We are consulting with our legal counsel, our compliance office and our league office. We will have further updates as they become available."

UC’s hesitancy, like many schools, is what may happen if the ruling is reversed. Would Reynolds then lose a year of eligibility? An NCAA statement released Thursday indicates a student-athlete could lose a year of eligibility in such a case. That would lead to players being in limbo until the Dec. 27 hearing on where the judge could rule for the preliminary injunction. Attorneys The Enquirer has spoken with feel the preliminary injunction is likely.

UC coach Wes Miller commented on the situation on his 700WLW radio show Thursday night.

"It's great now that we have the opportunity to play him in this window," Miller said. "It's a decision that Jamille's going to have to make ultimately. Does he want to risk that eligibility? I think it's something will sit down and talk about. I think he's excited there's a step in the right direction. We need to sit down and make sure everyone understands the dynamics before we make a final decision."

Back story

Yost and attorneys general from six other states filed the suit challenging the NCAA’s transfer eligibility rule as an illegal restraint on college athletes’ ability to market their labor and control their education.

West Virginia's RaeQuan Battle, like Reynolds and Bandaogo, sought immediate eligibility based on a mental health claim. Bandaogo was cleared by the NCAA last month shortly after retaining counsel. Battle has been denied twice and Reynolds once. Bailey deferred ruling on Battle's case.

Bailey was assigned the case after Clarksburg District Judge Thomas Kleeh recused himself due to his "historical public demonstration of dedicated and unwavering support of West Virginia athletics." Battle was part of what was the nation's No. 1 recruiting class by former WVU coach Bob Huggins. That class fizzled after the Huggins OVI incident in summer, but part of Battle's argument has been that he stayed on anyway.

Miami University quarterback Maddox Kopp, who had previous stops at Houston and Colorado, also testified Wednesday. Before Miami, he was at Colorado and involuntarily sent to the portal with the arrival of new coach Deion Sanders and his quarterback son, Shedeur.

Jamille Reynolds testified via Zoom about his previous school

"I would say it (going to Temple) was one of the worst things I ever went through," Reynolds said in testimony delivered over Zoom. "I didn't feel safe. My first week there I met a couple guys on the team, we went to a restaurant. We're leaving and there this drunk guy there and there's an altercation. He pulled a gun on us so we take off. Next, I was going to work out in the morning with my manager. He was running late. He comes in the door and he's crying. Turns out he got robbed."

Reynolds also mentioned a killing of someone that he encountered during his time in Philadelphia.

"This is my life and this has been taken away from me," Reynolds said of his time sitting out at UC.

How Jamille Reynolds came to UC

Reynolds transferred to UC on April 8. The St. Petersburg, Florida, senior averaged 10.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for Temple last season. He missed the first UC/Temple game on Jan. 1 due to injury but had 11 points and six rebounds against the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena on Feb. 22 of last season and 12 points and five boards in their American Athletic Conference quarterfinal loss to UC in Fort Worth March 5.

He previously had played two seasons at UCF. Like Aziz Bandaogo who had been at Akron and Utah Valley University, Reynolds filed for eligibility using a medical health claim. Both players were on teams where coaches and teammates departed.

After Tuesday night's 85-53 win over Bryant, both UC head coach Wes Miller and Aziz Bandaogo, who used the same waiver claim as Reynolds spoke about the 6-11 forward.

What Wes Miller said prior to the TRO

"Who wants it to get to this point?" Miller said. "My perspective is that Jamille Reynolds is sitting over there and he doesn't understand why he's not playing. He's a really good player and good kid and he hasn't done anything wrong. I'm pulling for Jamille because he's my guy. That's the truth. I'm going to stand with my guys always. I don't think it should have to come to this. I think the NCAA should clear him because he deserves to be cleared."

Miller said UC before Wednesday still had not heard back on his appeal. Bandaogo's appeal was approved Nov. 20.

"Anything that would help Jamille get on the court and help Jamille get to a good place, I am all for that," Miller said.

What Aziz Bandaogo said about Jamille Reynolds before the TRO

"I feel it is really hard for him," Bandaogo said. "I've been there and we just give him our full support to be there when the time comes. I feel he can help a lot. He has great post moves and if he comes back we're going to have power to go to the offensive boards and run the floor."

When could Jamille Reynolds play?

UC's next game is at Heritage Bank Arena, a neutral site affair with the Dayton Flyers. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jamille Reynolds eligible for UC, awaiting further word before playing