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Jizzle James makes cryptic posts about UC return. 'He's trolling'
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- Jizzle James makes cryptic posts about UC return. 'He's trolling'
Former Cincinnati Bearcats guard Jizzle James is posting cryptically on Instagram for the second year in a row .
Still listed on the Charlotte 49ers roster for coach Wes Miller as of Aug. 26, James has recently been hinting at a return to Cincinnati on the social media platform. One post on Aug. 25 showed James with the words "Free Agent...." and the area code 513 listed.
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In between other posts, including some of him working out in a gym, he posted of a "Welcome back to Cincy" gathering Sept. 5 in Orlando, where James played high school ball.
Jizzle James has made Instagram postings in recent days insinuating a return to Cincinnati. The Bearcats say he won't play here.
Earlier on Aug. 26, the site College Basketball Content posted that James had left Miller's Charlotte team and plans on making a return to Cincinnati if welcomed back. It said, "Not official yet. I gotta talk to Coach (Jerrod) Calhoun."
James later posted that report on an Instagram story.
What we know about Jizzle James's status at Charlotte
Four separate inquiries have been made to Charlotte and Wes Miller asking if James was with the 49ers, and there's been no response. Jizzle's father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Edgerrin James, said "Disregard. He's trolling," when asked about the Instagram posts.
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Charlotte basketball, in promoting their upcoming schedule, used Jizzle James (No. 2) in their promotional material on their website and on social media.
Could Jizzle James return to the Cincinnati Bearcats?
The Enquirer reached out to Assistant Athletic Director for Communications (basketball) Brett Rybak and General Manager Corey Evans about the former Bearcats guard. Both said there would be no official comment about James.
Head coach Jerrod Calhoun said via text he has never met him.
Even if Charlotte were to release James from his agreement, or if he left voluntarily, it doesn't seem possible for him to immediately return to UC.
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The NCAA basketball transfer portal ran from April 7 to April 21. The next one comes during the same dates after the national championship. James transferred from UC to Charlotte to join Miller and the 49ers on April 13.
Also, classes started Aug. 24 at UC and James' post describes a "going away" event on Sept. 5.
James does qualify for the "5-for-5" rule in terms of NCAA eligibility, so he could conceivably play somewhere in the 2027-28 season. Coming to UC now would likely require paying his own way and being a "walk-on." The NCAA introduced its five-year eligibility rule this summer.
Under the new rule , student-athletes who meet all eligibility requirements and enter college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday generally have up to five years of eligibility. James is entering his fourth year of college basketball.
The Cincinnati Bearcats had nine first-half treys at Kansas State. Jizzle James drills one here Feb. 11 at Bramlage Coliseum.
Jizzle James stats with UC Bearcats
James averaged 8.8 points and 21 assists as a freshman in 2023-24, starting two of 37 games. As a sophomore in 2024-25, he was the leading scorer at 12.7 points and 3.5 assists per game. Last season, he didn't rejoin the team until Dec. 17 for the Alabama State game , after making the road trip with the team to play Georgia.
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He played 23 games, starting 21 and averaging 10.9 points and 2.2 assists. In his first game back against Alabama State, James was greeted enthusiastically by the Fifth Third Arena crowd and scored 16 points in just 20 minutes.
James is still 21 years old and turns 22 on Christmas Day.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jizzle James makes cryptic posts about UC return. 'He's trolling'
