Oct. 14—For the first time in more than a month, Gonzaga received a piece of encouraging news on the 5-in-5 eligibility front.
Point guard Javon Bennett, a Dayton transfer trying to secure a fifth college season through the ongoing Borovicanin v. NCAA lawsuit, temporarily regained eligibility after the Ohio Supreme Court stayed a previous decision by the Ohio Court of Appeals.
For now it means Bennett, who ranked fifth in Atlantic 10 scoring last season while averaging 15.8 points, can suit up for a Gonzaga team that opens its exhibition slate on Oct. 24 against Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena.
Bennett joined a group of player plaintiffs that filed a lawsuit against the NCAA as part of Borovicanin v. NCAA. The veteran guard was cleared to play through a preliminary injunction on July 9 and subsequently committed to Gonzaga on Aug. 6.
Less than two weeks later, Bennett and the other players in Borovicanin v. NCAA encountered an obstacle when the NCAA was granted a stay in the lawsuit, temporarily reversing their eligibility until the case was resolved.
Wednesday's decision was the latest development in the Ohio 5-in-5 suit, restoring the lower court's injunction and making the players eligible until more information is collected.
Along with Bennett, other high-profile college basketball players impacted by the decision include Xavier's Filip Borovicanin, Cincinnati's MJ Collins Jr. and St. John's Keyshawn Hall.
The stay motion comes one day after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a controversial executive order permitting colleges in the state to determine whether various 5-in-5 candidates could compete this season. The order would only impact athletes currently enrolled at Ohio institutions and therefore not apply to Bennett, who spent the last three seasons at Dayton.
With Bennett back in the fold, Gonzaga could have a full fleet of point guards available for next week's marquee exhibition. French prospect Nathan De Sousa was recently cleared to compete for the Zags this season and fifth-year Florida transfer Xaivian Lee is currently eligible through a temporary restraining order in the state of California.
Lee's lawsuit, Glancey v. NCAA, will resume Oct. 20 in Santa Clara, California, although it's unlikely a final ruling on the case will be made then. Gonzaga women's player Ines Bettencourt is also one of the plaintiffs listed in the lawsuit.
One other Gonzaga player, wing Chauncey Wiggins, is currently involved in a 5-in-5 lawsuit. Wiggins initially obtained a fifth season of eligibility through a preliminary injunction, but the NCAA applied for a stay motion in that case, temporarily reversing the decision.
Wiggins and Lee both competed in Gonzaga's Kraziness in the Kennel showcase on Oct. 3, but Bennett didn't participate due to a minor shoulder injury, according to coach Mark Few.
The 5-foot-10 guard is coming off his most productive offensive season, averaging 15.8 points to go with 2.9 assists and 2.2 rebounds while earning All-Atlantic 10 first-team honors. Bennett made 98 starts over three seasons for the Flyers, helping Anthony Grant's program earn an NCAA Tournament berth in 2023-24.
