ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Roddy Gayle has been cleared to play a fifth season of college basketball for No. 16 Michigan, according to Wolverines coach Mike Boynton.
“The depth got a boost,” Boynton said Thursday.
Gayle, who is from Niagara Falls, New York, said he was told on Wednesday that a judge in his home state made the latest ruling to pave the way for him to play.
“I think we’re pretty confident,” Gayle said.
Gayle is expected to play for the defending champion Wolverines against No. 10 Houston in an exhibition game on Sunday in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The 6-foot-5 guard is among a slew of players who have joined lawsuits across the country after the NCAA instituted sweeping changes to its eligibility rules, allowing five years of competition over a five-year period.
“He's handled it as well as he can,” Boynton said.
Gayle has averaged 8.8 points and 3.2 rebounds over his career, which includes 146 games with 72 starts. He began his career at Ohio State, starting in 46 games and playing in 71 over two seasons. He transferred to Michigan, where he has started in 26 of 75 games.
He scored 24 points and blocked two shots in NCAA Tournament wins over Alabama and Tennessee, earning a spot on the All-Midwest Regional team to help the Wolverines advance toward their first national title since 1989 and the second in school history.
Michigan opens the season against Oakland on Nov. 2.
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This story has been corrected to show Michigan's opening game against Oakland is on Nov. 2.
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The Associated Press