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For Midland College head coach Isaac Fontenot, the priority is clear: prepare his players to move on and put them in position to capitalize on the best opportunities available. “At the end of the day, we’re trying to get our guys paid. Their future is the most important thing.” With four-year coaches evaluating talent, Fontenot wants those opportunities to turn into something tangible for his players — offers and legitimate chances to continue their careers at the right level. “I hope our guys leave with some offers and they have some good opportunities to move on from Midland College.” And in a recruiting landscape Fontenot believes is more competitive than ever, creating those opportunities has only become more important. “Right now, this is the most competitive time in NCAA history to get a Division I scholarship, and it’s only getting tougher.” For Fontenot, everything comes back to helping his players find the best possible next step.

For New Mexico JC head coach Luke Mackay, one of the most important traits his players can take to the next level won’t always show up in a highlight reel or box score. “We’ve got great guys that are about winning, that are going to make the winning plays.” Mackay wants a group that understands how to play organized basketball, make the right read and impact the game without needing the moment to be about themselves. Whether it’s passing, spacing the floor, being a great teammate or filling whatever role the team needs, winning comes first. “It may not necessarily be the highlight play. It may not necessarily be the play for themselves, but they’re going to do things that impact winning.” That understanding is also part of preparing players for the four-year level. Mackay believes learning spacing, embracing roles and understanding what winning basketball requires can help make that transition easier. “They’re playing basketball in an organized setting, and I think that’ll transfer to the four-year when they go there.”

For Navarro College head coach Hunter Jenkins, preparing players for the next level means making their everyday experience with the Bulldogs resemble what they’ll encounter at a Division I program. “Really everything we do from weights to academics to everything here is very similar to other Division Is I’ve been at.” Jenkins plans to lean on his experience at programs including UTEP, Buffalo and Texas Tech to establish that standard at Navarro. From skill development and film study to academics, nutrition and the level of competition players face every day in practice, the goal is to make the eventual jump as seamless as possible. “We’re going to try to run things like a Division I program, so that’s why it should be a seamless transition after they play here.” And with Jenkins expecting 10, 11 or 12 quality players competing for opportunities each season, development won’t only come on game nights. “You’re going to be tested in practice, obviously tested in this league.”

For Northern Oklahoma College-Enid head coach Chris Gerber, building the right team isn’t about every player chasing the biggest stat line. It’s about having the IQ and unselfishness to understand what the game requires. “I think that’s big in college athletics right now, of adapting to your team and adapting to your role.” With a group Gerber believes can handle the ball, shoot, playmake, defend and rebound across the roster, different players could be called upon to carry the load on different nights. The expectation is to put individual numbers aside and make the right basketball play. “There’s going to be nights when Player A has 20 points and there’s going to be nights when Player C has 20 points. But we got to make the right basketball read.” And for college coaches evaluating his players, Gerber believes their value will extend well beyond the box score. “Maybe that Player A doesn’t jump off the stat sheet or the film, but you’re going to see the intangibles.”

Northern Oklahoma College-Enid head coach Chris Gerber wants this year’s group to establish the same kind of identity that defined his team a season ago. “Our identity, I hope, is going to be very similar to last year: scrappy guys that play hard.” With plenty of new pieces still learning how to play together, Gerber knows the early part of the process will be about chemistry, toughness and buying into a team-first approach. “We got a lot of pieces, but we got a lot of learning, a lot of chemistry, a lot of dog days coming up.” The talent is there. Now NOC-Enid is focused on becoming a connected group that competes every possession and plays with the edge Gerber expects.

Navarro College head coach Hunter Jenkins has almost an entirely new roster this season, but he likes the balance the Bulldogs have assembled. “Whole new team. I think we’ve got one returner who was here last year.” With a mix of JUCO transfers, Division I transfers and incoming freshmen, Jenkins sees experience and new talent coming together throughout the lineup. “Really balanced group. Got a good group of guards, good group of wings and forwards.” Now the focus turns to bringing all those pieces together and establishing an identity for a new-look Navarro group.

For New Mexico JC head coach Luke Mackay, this year’s group may look different up front — but the tradeoff is a roster built around versatility. “We’ve got lots of guys, 6’6 plus, who can dribble, pass, and shoot.” Instead of relying on one dominant interior presence, Mackay believes NMJC can attack with collective size, skill and interchangeability across the floor. With more players capable of handling the ball, stretching defenses and making plays, he expects a faster style with plenty of movement and perimeter shooting. “It should be a fun team with that much versatility.”

Coffeyville CC head coach Jay Herkelman expects this year’s group to bring a different style to the floor — and the change is intentional. After featuring more size and strength on the interior in recent seasons, Herkelman believes this Coffeyville team will be built around length, athleticism, speed and versatility. “We’re going to be a little more long, athletic, fast… guys that are pretty interchangeable.” With multiple players capable of handling the ball and making decisions, along with a group Herkelman expects to shoot it well, the Red Ravens will have plenty of ways to attack. A different style is coming to Coffeyville this season.

Independence Community College head coach Jai Steadman believes college coaches won’t have to watch his group for long to realize how much talent is on the roster this season. “I think we have two or three of the top players in the country returning in our backcourt.” Add in more depth, transfers, and a talented freshman class, and Steadman believes Independence has assembled a group capable of competing well beyond the Jayhawk Conference. “We added some depth, some transfers, and some really, really talented freshmen that’s going to help us compete not only in the Jayhawk, but in the nation.” As tours and jamborees get underway, Independence is a JUCO program college coaches will want on the radar. Full JUCO Virtual Tour interview with Jai Steadman now on the Revocruit Youtube channel.

For Chisholm Trail head coach Chris Hastings, the responsibilities of a high school coach are evolving. It’s no longer just about what happens between the lines — coaches have to help put their players in position to be seen and succeed beyond high school. “You are responsible for making sure you put your players in the best situations possible.” Hastings believes that means building the right support system around a program and utilizing platforms like Revocruit to consistently get players’ faces, stats, information, and accomplishments in front of the right people. And that exposure can impact more than recruiting. “That’s just another motivational piece for those players: ‘Hey, coach has my back and coach is doing everything possible to set me up for success.’” For Hastings, showing players you’re invested in their future is becoming another important part of coaching in today’s game. Full interview with Chris Hastings now on the Revocruit YouTube channel.

The recruiting landscape has changed, and DeSoto head coach Nicke Smith believes creating opportunities for high school players now takes more than ever. With 430+ career wins, multiple state championships and relationships with college coaches across the country, Smith has spent years helping players reach the next level. But the rise of the Transfer Portal and college programs prioritizing older, experienced players has made that path increasingly difficult. “Because of the portal, it’s kind of hard to make that call and just get a kid in school now, because they want to go older.” For Smith, that means the village around a player has to grow with the changing landscape. “Now it takes not just myself, but a platform like Revocruit and everybody, and parents and everyone, to just help that one kid maybe get that one opportunity to play at the next level.” The relationships still matter. The high school coach still matters. But Smith sees platforms like Revocruit becoming another piece of that village, helping connect high school talent with college coaches already evaluating players across the recruiting landscape. The game has changed. Creating opportunities has become a team effort.

So what happens now for Class of 2022 players hoping to play a fifth year? With the Colorado ruling now paused, there is no longer one blanket court ruling protecting Class of 2022 athletes across the country. That means players who were relying solely on the Colorado decision may need to seek legal protection in their own state to remain eligible for the 2026-27 season. Importantly, this does not erase the separate state court rulings already in place. Players protected by those individual rulings may still be eligible. The biggest factor now is time. Players without separate protection may need to move quickly to seek a temporary restraining order or other court relief with the season approaching. The Colorado case itself is also not over. The plaintiffs can ask the court to reconsider the stay, while the larger appeal continues. For now, what briefly looked like a broad fifth-year opportunity for the Class of 2022 has shifted back to a state-by-state and case-by-case fight for eligibility.

Another major development has shifted the Class of 2022 fifth-year eligibility landscape. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has granted the NCAA’s request to stay the preliminary injunction in Wisne v. NCAA, temporarily pausing the Colorado ruling that had provided fifth-year eligibility protection to qualifying Class of 2022 athletes. For now, Class of 2022 athletes who exhausted four seasons of eligibility are considered ineligible for the 2026-27 season unless they are protected by a separate temporary restraining order or injunction. This is not a final ruling on the case. The Colorado injunction has been put on hold while the NCAA’s appeal moves forward on an expedited timeline. Meanwhile, separate eligibility lawsuits continue across the country, meaning some athletes protected by other court orders may remain eligible while the broader Class of 2022 awaits the next decision. The fifth-year eligibility battle is far from over, but for now, the class-wide protection that opened the door for thousands of Class of 2022 athletes has been paused.

The Class of 2022 fifth-year eligibility movement continues to reshape college basketball. With another year of eligibility now in play, a growing list of Class of 2022 players have found new homes for the 2026-27 season, giving programs across the country an opportunity to add experienced talent to their rosters. Which fifth-year addition do you think will make the BIGGEST impact this season? 🤔⬇️

The NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model is facing another legal challenge — this time with medical redshirts directly in the spotlight. Campbell and other plaintiffs have refiled their lawsuit in Colorado federal court challenging the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility model and its elimination of traditional hardship and medical waivers. Under the new system, an athlete’s five-year eligibility clock generally continues to run even if a season-ending injury prevents them from competing. The NCAA maintained limited exceptions for circumstances including pregnancy, military service and official religious missions, but the previous medical-redshirt system is largely eliminated. The plaintiffs argue the rule can prevent athletes from receiving a full five years of competitive eligibility because of circumstances outside their control, including serious injuries. This is a lawsuit challenging the rule — not a ruling against the NCAA. But it puts another piece of the NCAA’s new eligibility model directly in front of a federal court as legal challenges to college sports eligibility continue to grow.

The NCAA has been denied in its attempt to pause the Class of 2022 eligibility ruling. Judge Charlotte Sweeney denied the NCAA’s Emergency Motion for Administrative Stay and Motion to Stay Preliminary Injunction Pending Appeal in the Wisne case. The NCAA had asked Sweeney to pause her preliminary injunction while its appeal moves forward, arguing that the ruling was creating major disruption ahead of the 2026-27 college sports season. Sweeney declined, writing that the plaintiffs met their burden for injunctive relief while the NCAA did not meet its burden for a stay. What does that mean? The preliminary injunction remains in effect, keeping fifth-year eligibility protections in place for qualifying Class of 2022 Division I athletes while the legal battle continues. The NCAA’s appeal itself is still ongoing.

Latest: The NCAA is making its final push to pause the Class of 2022 eligibility ruling. In its latest filing in the Wisne case, the NCAA is asking the court to stay the preliminary injunction that opened the door for qualifying Division I Class of 2022 athletes to compete for a fifth season in 2026-27 while the NCAA appeals the ruling. The NCAA argues the injunction has already disrupted the administration of the upcoming season, saying “it is hard to take seriously” the argument that it has not caused chaos and that the 2026-27 college sports season should not be “turned upside down.” The matter is now fully briefed and before the court, with the NCAA requesting a ruling by noon on August 10. For now, the injunction remains in place. The court’s next decision will determine whether it stays in effect while the NCAA’s appeal moves forward.

Another DFW product continuing his journey at the Division I level. Leon Horner spent three seasons at Frisco Memorial, earning All-District honors three times before transferring to Dynamic Prep for his senior year. There, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while earning a nomination for the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game. Horner stayed in-state to begin his college career at Texas Tech, spending two seasons with the Red Raiders before making the move to Jacksonville State for the next chapter of his career. Back home in DFW, Horner brought his game to Swin City Pro-Am and showed what’s ahead as he prepares for a new opportunity at Jacksonville State. 🎥 Leon Horner at Swin City Pro-Am.

Another court has ruled against the NCAA in the ongoing battle over eligibility. A federal judge in Georgia issued a preliminary injunction preventing the NCAA from enforcing several eligibility rules against the plaintiffs in the case while the lawsuit moves toward trial. The order: • Grants a fifth season of eligibility. • Allows qualifying players to compete despite missing the Transfer Portal deadline. • Protects certain players who signed professional contracts during their period of ineligibility if they meet the court’s conditions. • Prevents the NCAA from enforcing the “ghost transfer” rule, Rule of Restitution, or penalizing schools and coaches for allowing those athletes to compete. This ruling is not class-wide like the recent Colorado decision, meaning it applies only to the plaintiffs covered by this lawsuit. However, it marks another legal setback for the NCAA as courts continue scrutinizing the rollout of the new 5-for-5 eligibility model.