NCAA eligibility rules, does anyone know what they are anymore? The NCAA recently set out a five year eligibility requirements for each player, however some athletes from the 2022 high school graduating class have sued to obtain a fifth year.
Stand-out forward Antwone Woolfolk is one of the potential athletes looking to return to the court. Starting all 33 games last season, the senior big man averaged 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds. Currently on the official Miami men’s basketball roster, Woolfolk may feature as part of the 2026-27 season.
Although Woolfolk would instantly provide the RedHawks a chance to repeat the success of last season, his return could negatively impact the future of the program.
Miami has depth, a tool that was highlighted last season when senior guard Evan Ipsaro suffered a season ending injury and the team did not skip a beat. Head coach Travis Steele turned to the redshirt guard Justin Kirby who showed his potential instantly.
Despite the loss of several key players last season, the RedHawks loaded up on portal talent who had all shown promise at other mid-major programs. With so much talent spread over the roster, the inclusion of Woolfolk may damage the development of Miami’s young players.
Just last season, freshman guard Trey Perry saw the writing on the wall. Although gifted with tremendous athleticism, Perry would need to compete for minutes behind established players like Ipsaro, junior Luke Skaljac and Kirby.
The RedHawks landed a high-profile guard recruit Anthony Fresh and talented University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee transfer Stevie Elam. On top of those five names, freshman guard Leshawn Stowers will also emerge from his redshirt.
Perry decided to transfer to Coastal Carolina University, a place where he could be one of the top guards on the roster and let his talent shine. With 10 forwards on the roster, the addition of Woolfolk would limit opportunities for underclassmen. This may start a domino effect and lead to a mass exodus of players at the forward position next season.
If Woolfolk plays for the RedHawks this season, he will likely be the starting center for the season. Ball State University transfer sophomore Preston Copeland was a key acquisition by the RedHawks in the off season and will likely start as well. That will leave Kirby, senior Almar Atlason and Youngstown State University transfer senior Rich Rolf to fight for the last remaining starting spot.
That leaves sophomore forwards Tyler Robbins and Kyle Waltz much deeper on the bench. Both players showed flashes last season, however it was clear the players need the development that only significant minutes on the court provide.
In the recruiting cycle, Steele also landed highly touted prospect Alan Horton who also plays in the forward role. Horton may be willing to sit on the bench and develop for a season as a freshman, but the rest of the players sitting the bench may grow restless and resentful of their role.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
It is not the fault of the player to want to return to college and seek extra eligibility, it is up to the athletic department to weigh the potential risks at hand. Ultimately, fans will have to wait and see what the fallout from the Woolfolk saga will be, but this situation could easily implode. The 2027-28 season would be greatly impacted by a mass exodus of talent at the forward position, creating a crippling hole for the roster.
The development of younger talent and the ability to retain players has been uncharacteristic among other mid-major schools. Steele has done an impressive job of navigating the current era of NCAA athletics, but the juice may ultimately not be worth the squeeze when it comes to the inclusion of Antwone Woolfolk in the 2026-27 roster.
Read More
Panthers rout RedHawks in McComb’s debut
By Cooper Meneghetti | 2 days agoThe Miami University (0-1) football team traveled to the banks of the three rivers to face the University of Pittsburgh Panthers (1-0) at Acrisure Stadium.