After scoring its first legal win of the offseason, the St. John’s basketball team could still have a long way to go in the courtroom to ensure its full roster will be ready to go when the season begins in early November.
The Johnnies learned on Tuesday that Senegal native Babacar Sane was granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) that currently makes him eligible for the upcoming season after the NCAA deemed his was ineligible following his professional playing experience overseas and in the G-League.
Similarly, Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall and Indiana transfer Reed Bailey are also attempting to be granted a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA after its ill-advised and poor rollout of the 5-for-5 eligibility rules that would allow college athletes the ability to play for five seasons starting this academic year.
Hall has been named in a court case in Ohio, which was granted a TRO but most recently a motion was granted to stay that decision in favor of the NCAA and he is currently ineligible, while Bailey was part of a case that was granted an injunction in North Carolina.
In addition to Sane, Hall, and Bailey, St. John’s could face some issues getting British point guard Quinn Ellis eligible for the upcoming season after his experience playing in the EuroLeague.
No decision from the NCAA has come down on Ellis but if they rule in a similar fashion as Babacar Sane, expect the Red Storm to employ similar legal tactics to get one of its most important players on the court this season.
Quinn Ellis, Keyshawn Hall, and Babacar Sane are expected to battle for starting spots on the Johnnies this season along with key returning players Ruben Prey and Ian Jackson as well as Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou.
St. John’s will begin the exhibition slate of its schedule in October while the regular season begins in early November.
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