“Would Be Pure Chaos”: Rick Pitino Shares Harsh St. John’s Reality as NCAA Eyes 5th-Year Eligibility

A new NCAA proposal could grant athletes a fifth year of eligibility, but for St. John’s coach Rick Pitino, the move isn’t a gift—it’s a financial nightmare in the making. Reports had surfaced in early April that President Charlie Baker and the college sports governing body are in serious discussions to implement this provision. Barker also recently iterated, “I haven’t had anybody say to me that this is a bad idea.” But veteran head Rick Pitino isn’t buying into this provision as he doubles down on his program’s reality.

For context, the 5th-year eligibility provision will allow players who completed their senior season in 2025-26 to return the following season and will also put a halt to frequent redshirts and year drops. The five-year window will be measured from the year the player turns 19 or graduates from high school, whichever comes earliest. On the surface, it may seem to be an opportunity to pounce on for several teams. According to reports, the Division I cabinet can put the proposal up for discussion in May. Subsequently, it can be implemented in June.

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But for Pitino, the move would lead to chaos, especially for his program, which has already seen its NIL checks deteriorate. “It would be pure chaos,” Pitino said. “Most teams have 80% of their NIL. Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to have my seniors back but our NIL is just about finished.”

Now boasting over 5 decades of experience in the hoops circuit, Pitino’s voice is credible and needs to be heard. And if you read between the lines of his assessment, it makes even more sense. At this time in the offseason, when the transfer portal closes (April 21), most teams have chalked out their plans and subsequently brought in players accordingly.

On top of that, most teams have also concluded their recruiting classes to land top talent on their rosters. And, as the current era of college basketball demands, all of these players come with hefty NIL tags. As a result, with the…

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Publish date : 2026-04-24 05:03:00

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