It may be the most confusing era in college basketball history when it comes to eligibility rules. The NCAA added another wrinkle to the equation recently, with updated standards for international student-athletes.

Sports Illustrated and Basket Under Review contributor Kevin Sweeney outlined the new guidelines in an article last week.

"The guidelines state that prospective student-athletes who “entered an agreement with, competed on or received compensation from a team that participates in a league with minimum compensation that exceeds actual and necessary expenses” will not have their college eligibility reinstated."

Essentially, if an athlete got paid too much by a professional club overseas, they'd be deemed ineligible. The EuroLeague, Spanish ACB and several other top international leagues all pay salaries well above the threshold set by the NCAA. Sweeney says the impact of the new eligibility process has not yet been felt, but could cause issues for several schools.

"It’s still very early in the eligibility review process for the vast majority of the top international talent that has signed with college programs in recent weeks, so the practical impact of these changes is still unclear. But a return to a more stringent accounting of players’ pre-college earnings and subsequent ineligibility could wreak havoc on rosters throughout the sport, including plenty of the biggest programs in college basketball."

The other major domino waiting to fall is the proposed 5-year, age-based eligibility rule - otherwise known as 5-in-5. The NCAA DI cabinet met Friday to further discuss the topic, but no formal vote was taken. Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger reported a vote is likely to take place during the next cabinet meetings, which are scheduled for the week of June 22. As of writing, the proposal is expected to pass when finally voted on.

The looming question with 5-in-5 is will it be applied retroactively to recently graduated seniors? Formal guidance from the NCAA has said no, but several legal filings are expected once the proposal officially passes. Under normal circumstances, the timing of the vote would act as a natural deterrent since most rosters are complete by the end of June. If there are as many issues as anticipated with international players, it may open up opportunities for those graduated seniors to reclaim rosters spots.

It's May 25 and several teams across the country are still waiting for roster clarity. Not ideal!

Basket Under Review

Kentucky center Malachi Moreno announced he is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to school for his sophomore season. The 7-foot center generated some first round buzz after an impressive combine, but opted to come back to Kentucky for a large payday and to improve his stock for what is considered a weaker draft in 2027. The Wildcats are still looking to add players to their roster and remain in the mix for Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic should he withdraw from the draft.

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Notable commitments: Jordan Burks (UCF) to Oklahoma State | Papa Kante (Pitt) to Arkansas Little Rock | Isaiah Sy (Oregon State) to San Diego State | Courtland Muldrew (Washington) to Georgia Tech

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