Matt McMahon expects Jalen Cook back for Texas game

The LSU basketball program is getting a boost at just the right time. Tulane transfer Jalen Cook is expected to be available for the Tigers on Saturday for their game against Texas.

Cook has yet to appear in a game this year as he has been waiting for approval from the NCAA after transferring for the second time.

The Louisiana native started his career at LSU, before transferring to Tulane after one season. After playing for the Green Wave for two years, he transferred back to LSU this offseason.

Jalen Cook averaged 20 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists for Tulane last year. He should help an LSU squad that enters Saturday’s game with a 6-4 record.

“That’s our expectation is he’ll have two good days of preparation here Thursday and Friday and my understanding is he’s fully cleared and ready to go on Saturday,” LSU head coach Matt McMahon said.

On Wednesday, West Virginia Judge John P. Bailey ruled against the NCAA, stating that the NCAA can’t “make an athlete sit out a year,” and lifted the year-in-residence restriction on multi-time transfers for 14 days in the process. That further cleared the way for Jalen Cook to play against Texas.

McMahon is excited to have him back.

“There was a lot of confusion throughout the afternoon and evening and just wasn’t much clarity there as to the right path,” he said. “But my understanding is he’ll be locked in and ready to go on Saturday. Really happy for him.”

NCAA releases statement on court order allowing immediate eligibility for multi-transfer athletes

The NCAA is changing their stance on the year in residency requirement for multiple-time transfers.

On Wednesday, West Virginia Judge John P. Bailey ruled against the NCAA in a lawsuit stemming from a battle for eligibility involving West Virginia men’s basketball’s RaeQuan Battle. The Mountaineers star has been dealing with a controversial decision from the NCAA that many other athletes have fought against, as he was denied a transfer waiver after he joined the team in the offseason.

The latest move in the drama was Battle filing a lawsuit that would allow him to play immediately, and Bailey ruled in his favor, but the decision had a ripple effect, as the judge also ruled that the NCAA can’t “make an athlete sit out a year,” and lifted the year-in-residence restriction on multi-time transfers for 14 day in the process.

Now, the NCAA has made their stance known on the matter, deciding to do away with the rule moving forward. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, who was all over the Battle news, shared their statement to X, formerly known as Twitter.

“As a result of today’s decision impacting Division I student-athletes, the Association will not enforce the year in residency requirement for multiple-time transfers and will begin notifying member schools,” the NCAA’s statement ready, per Dellenger.