The Kansas Jayhawks announced Sunday that guard Melvin Council Jr. will return to Kansas for the 2026-27 college basketball season after receiving a preliminary injunction that allows him to play a sixth year.
Council earned the injunction against the NCAA in Monroe County, New York, on September 29, clearing the way for him to return to the court.
Kansas head coach Bill Self confirmed that Council will immediately rejoin the Jayhawks for practice.
“After being granted a preliminary injunction to play this season, Melvin Council will begin to practice with us immediately, like Tre White did last week,” Self said in a statement.
It’s a significant addition for a Kansas team preparing for another run at the Big 12 championship.
Melvin Council Jr’s KU Tenure
Council was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year last season after averaging 12.7 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Jayhawks. Beyond his production, Self pointed to the experience and leadership Council brings back to the Kansas roster.
Council’s return also comes shortly after White received an opportunity to return to the Jayhawks, giving Self even more experience as Kansas prepares for the upcoming season.
For Council, the court ruling provides another opportunity in Lawrence after initially appearing to have completed his college career.
Melvin Council’s Career
Council has taken a winding path to Lawrence during his college career. He began at Monroe College, a junior college in New York, where he spent two seasons before transferring to Wagner for the 2022-23 season. Council then moved to St. Bonaventure, where he averaged 14.6 points, 5.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 season. He transferred to Kansas ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, making the Jayhawks his fourth college stop. His time at the junior-college level ultimately became an important part of his eligibility case as he sought another season of college basketball.
For Kansas, it’s difficult to view the development as anything other than a major late addition. Instead of replacing one of their most productive players from last season, the Jayhawks will now bring him back into the fold as preseason preparations ramp up.
And with Big 12 basketball once again expected to be loaded, getting the reigning conference Newcomer of the Year back is quite the October surprise for Bill Self and the Jayhawks.
