Former Illinois Basketball Player Could Be Back in College Basketball

College basketball has been in scramble mode since the NCAA implemented its new five-for-five eligibility rules. Former college players who should be moving on to the next level or finding their first professional opportunity are now looking for a way to get one more year of college basketball.

With NIL, it can be very lucrative for fifth-year players to attempt a return to college rather than playing in the G League or overseas. College programs can pay significantly more than most professional leagues outside of the NBA and EuroLeague, leading players to take their eligibility battles to court in an attempt to take advantage of what they see as the NCAA’s soft enforcement.

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Former Illinois basketball player Tre White is one of the many former college athletes looking to win a court case and return to college. White recently received a temporary restraining order (TRO) and is currently eligible to play this season. He played for the Miami Heat in the NBA Summer League before deciding he wanted to return to college for one more year.

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White played extremely well in the NBA Summer League for the Heat, averaging 17.3 points per game over four games. He shot an impressive 40% from three-point range while also averaging 5.8 rebounds per game.

White had the best season of his college career last year at Kansas, averaging career highs of 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Kansas was his fourth school in four years, but he made a major impact for the Jayhawks. Kansas earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament but lost in the Round of 32 to the No. 5 seed St. John’s Red Storm. White scored just four points in that game and will look to bounce back from that performance during the 2026-27 season.

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Illinois had White for one season, but it did not go as well as it did for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. White played just 23.4 minutes per game during his season in Champaign, the lowest average of any college…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-illinois-basketball-player-could-003004592.html

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Publish date : 2026-09-30 00:30:00

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