Oklahoma' s BJ Edwards just got thrown back into eligibility limbo.
The Tennessee Court of Appeals sided with the NCAA and put a stay on the temporary injunction that had given him — and 18 other players — a fifth year. So for now, the green light he was operating under is on hold.
Edwards committed to the Sooners after a really solid run at SMU. Last season he put up 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.3 steals a night. He's 6-3, 200 pounds, and plays like a guard who actually enjoys the dirty work. Defense is the first thing that jumps out. He's a two-time ACC All-Defensive Team guy and led the league in steals. He gets into passing lanes, holds up at the point of attack, and rebounds better than most guards you'll find.
With the ball in his hands he's steady.
He runs pick-and-roll, doesn't turn it over much, and plays with some strength going downhill. The three-point shooting was efficient at 37 percent, but he didn't let it fly a ton. Creating his own shot in the half court still needs work. That's the main area people will watch if he ends up playing.
He already dipped his toes in the pro waters — Exhibit 10 deal with the Kings, Summer League time — before deciding to come back for another year. The earlier court ruling made that possible. Now the appeals court has hit pause, and nobody knows how long that pause lasts.
For Oklahoma this is a headache. Edwards was supposed to be a ready-made piece who could defend, rebound, and run the floor right away. When a player like that suddenly has his status clouded up, the staff has to start contingency planning whether they want to or not. Roster management is already messy enough these days.
This isn't just about one guy, either. A whole group of players was operating under that injunction. The stay puts all of them in the same waiting game. Edwards just happens to be the one tied to the Sooners.
Nothing is permanently decided yet.
The stay doesn't end his eligibility for good, but it does take away the temporary protection that made him a clear roster addition. Until the legal side moves again, Oklahoma is stuck in that annoying middle ground where you can't fully count on a player you already thought you had.
Edwards has the production and the toughness to help. Whether he actually gets to do it in a Sooners uniform is out of his hands and the program's hands for the moment.
All anyone can do is wait on the next court decision.
