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Grand Forks Herald
UND, Garrett Anderson await information about fifth year of eligibility
- Story byGrand Forks Herald
- UND, Garrett Anderson await information about fifth year of eligibility
Oct. 14—GRAND FORKS — There is mutual interest in Garrett Anderson returning to UND this year for his fifth season of college basketball, according to head coach Paul Sather.
"There's a lot still going on, no decisions have been made," Sather said. "But I think at this point, we're still open to the idea."
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Anderson is a Class of 2022 guard. He spent two seasons with San Jose State before transferring to Central Washington. Anderson transferred to UND for his senior season which, under previous eligibility standards, was his final season to participate.
The NCAA adopted the 5-for-5 rule this summer, which gives athletes a five-season eligibility window that begins upon the athlete's initial full-time college enrollment or at the start of the academic year following their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
But college athletes from the Class of 2022 were not included in the rule change.
Northern Colorado basketball player Brock Wisne and other 2022 high school graduates filed a federal class-action antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA, challenging the decision to exclude them.
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U.S. District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney granted a nationwide preliminary injunction on July 31, 2026. On Aug. 21, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit stayed the injunction.
Wisne v. NCAA is still moving through the U.S. Court of Appeals. The 10th Circuit held oral arguments regarding the appeal on Oct. 13.
Jonnie Wiltshire, a Class of 2022 athlete, has played for the UND football team this season after being granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA. His TRO was recently extended during a preliminary injunction hearing in Grand Forks County District Court.
Sather is hoping to learn additional information about Anderson's eligibility in the coming weeks.
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"We're definitely open to it," Sather said. "He's open to it. We hope here in the next few weeks that maybe something will come out of it. ... I know this ... the group we have ... I'm really excited about it. I love how they're working, and we haven't really gone mentally to a place where that's going to be an option. But it's definitely something that we talk to Garrett about, and we're working toward. It's just we don't know anything yet."
Anderson played in 29 games and started 28 last season. He averaged 10.8 points, 1.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 29.2 minutes per game in his lone season with the Fighting Hawks.
UND currently has 14 players on the roster, one shy of the NCAA cap of 15.
Anderson spent a season playing with Central Washington in Division II, but the 5-for-5 eligibility rule was also adopted by the NCAA Division II Executive Board.
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"His familiarity with how we play and what we do, it makes sense," Sather said. "He played his four years, and in one of those years, he had some really bad injuries that he fought through and played through. So for him to get another year, a lot of times it just seems like it would be the right thing and the fair thing to do, but I can't decide that."
