CJ Gunn awaits eligibility ruling from Boone County judge

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County judge could decide by Friday whether guard CJ Gunn will be eligible for his fifth season of college basketball, which he intends to play at Mizzou.

Gunn and his legal team on Tuesday appeared in a Boone County courtroom as his eligibility battle with the NCAA continues. He filed a lawsuit on Oct. 7 in an attempt to get a fifth year of eligibility. The hearing centered on whether or not the 22-year-old is eligible to be an active member of the 2026-27 Mizzou men's basketball roster, as well as his stint in a Canadian professional basketball league.

After arguments were made by both sides, Judge Jeff Harris said he will look to have a final decision by the end of Friday, but noted it's not a hard deadline.

Gunn's legal team argued the current NCAA guidelines support his eligibility for the upcoming season, while the NCAA opposed his request for emergency relief. The NCAA said that its rules regarding professional basketball participation are clear.

The guard played for roughly three weeks under contract for the Calgary Surge in May and appeared in three games in the Canadian Elite Basketball League following his departure from DePaul. Gunn's team argued the circumstances of when he played should be considered, as the NCAA's new five-in-five eligibility rule was not in place yet. His attorneys claimed he would have given up the money he earned in Canada had he known he could return to college and play for Mizzou, emphasizing he is willing to repay the $524 he earned.

Gunn's attorneys referenced NCAA Bylaw 12.6, which says the new eligibility rule went into effect in August. His attorneys stated it shouldn't be applied to Gunn's involvement in the CEBL, since he had no knowledge of a possibility of a fifth season at the time.

His team also added his name was automatically entered into the NBA Draft, since he was a graduating senior. They said he didn't withdraw from that draft because he didn't know another year of eligibility may have been on the table.

His legal team also spoke from an affidavit that head coach Dennis Gates submitted, which stated Gunn would not take the place of another player on the roster. On Sunday when Gates talked to local media members after Mizzou's pro day, he said the entire team came to an agreement that bringing on Gunn and Mark Mitchell was good for the program.

The NCAA was against the request, arguing its professional participation rules are clear and that playing professionally outside the NBA should still count as professional experience.

Several lawsuits have been filed by athletes this year by athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility, including University of Missouri athletes Sterling Webb, Addie Dobson and Melanie Walker.