Kansas Guard Melvin Council Jr. Returns to Practice

Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. is expected to return for the 2026-27 season and begin practicing immediately after a New York judge granted him a preliminary injunction allowing him to pursue a sixth year of college eligibility. Council argues that his two seasons at junior college should not count toward his NCAA eligibility; the case remains ongoing, and the NCAA is expected to appeal. Teammate Tre White also recently received court-backed eligibility relief. Council started all 35 games last season, averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, and was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. His return adds experience, leadership and playmaking to Kansas’s backcourt.