The University of Utah men's basketball team appears to be a benefactor from the recent temporary court injunction that permits 2022 high school graduates a fifth year of collegiate eligibility.
On Tuesday, On3's Pete Nakos reported that former Northern Iowa guard Trey Campbell has signed with Utah.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver ruled that athletes from the high school graduating class of 2022 who recently exhausted their NCAA eligibility are now eligible to compete in college for an additional season, as the Deseret News previously reported .
On Monday, Nakos reported that the NCAA's emergency motion for an administrative stay on that preliminary class-wide injunction was denied by Sweeney.
That would allow Campbell an additional season of eligibility if the ruling holds up.
The preliminary injunction came after the NCAA approved a new eligibility model that allows athletes five years to play five seasons , often referred to as "five in five." That model is set to be implemented in the 2026-27 academic season.
The legal battle is far from over, though. On Tuesday, the NCAA released a statement stating that it will continue to appeal the case and that the organization will not grant a blanket waiver to the Class of 2022 fifth-year players.
"We stand behind and will continue to fully defend the membership's decision. The injunction should never have been granted, and we have asked the Tenth Circuit to permanently reverse it," the statement said, in part.
Campbell, a 6-foot-4 guard who hails from Cedar Falls, Iowa, played the past four seasons at Northern Iowa and was a part of the 2022 high school recruiting class.
During the 2025-26 season, Campbell averaged career-highs with 13.7 points and 3.8 assists per game, to go along with 3.8 rebounds per contest.
He was a four-year starter for the Panthers and averaged 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists during his time at Northern Iowa, while shooting 43.1% from the field and 37.7% from 3-point range.
Campbell was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and earned second-team All-MVC and all-defensive team honors this past season, helping the Panthers reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade.
He was named the conference tournament MVP after averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in the MVC tournament, including 23 points in the league championship game.
In Northern Iowa's 79-53 NCAA Tournament loss to St. John's, Campbell scored a team-high 14 points and added three steals, three rebounds and an assist.
Campbell is the only player in Northern Iowa history to record 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists.
After going undrafted, he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves Summer League team. Campbell did not play during NBA Summer League action, but the experience allowed him the opportunity to be around an NBA organization and gain valuable knowledge in a pro setting.
He is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining for the Utes, provided there are no roadblocks to him earning a fifth year of eligibility through the injunction.
The Runnin' Utes have had almost a full overhaul of their roster for a second straight offseason. That includes along the perimeter, where only Lucas Langarita and Obomate Abbey return at guard from Alex Jensen's first group a year ago.
Campbell should be a part of a solid rotation of guards that Utah can utilize.
The most anticipated addition joining Utah this season is Noam Yaacov , the Israeli guard who starred for Filou Oostende this past season in the Belgian BNXT league, then went through the NBA draft process this offseason as an "auto eligible" prospect.
Yaacov and TJ Burch , who was the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year last season at Wright State, are expected to be Utah's primary backcourt options for the 2026-27 campaign.
Campbell joins a group of wing players, including former Utah Valley star Jackson Holcombe and Ohio State's Taison Chatman , who can provide depth and versatility along the perimeter.
With Campbell's addition, the Utes have 16 players on the roster for next season.
The only question remaining surrounds whether Austrian big man Fynn Schott will officially join the Utes. He committed to the team back in February and has long been expected to join the squad, giving Utah a valuable depth piece — and a possible starter — in the front court.
Earlier this offseason, Schott's most recent team, Hestia Menorca of the Spanish Primera FEB, shared a thank you for the big man on social media, indicating his move to Utah .
While that hasn't been officially announced, KSL's Steve Bartle reported Tuesday that Schott recently visited Utah's campus and he is still expected to join the program for the upcoming season.
