Trey Kaufman-Renn has been granted a temporary restraining order that awards him a sixth season of NCAA eligibility, opening a path back to college basketball despite already being selected in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. The measure, reported by RealGM — Basketball Wiretap and TalkBasket, confirms the court authorized the additional year while his challenge to the five-year eligibility rule proceeds.
Court order reopens the college route
The forward spent five seasons at Purdue, including a redshirt year in 2021-22, and appeared in 147 games across the next four seasons. His claim contests the NCAA’s five-year eligibility window, and the temporary order grants immediate eligibility on a provisional basis pending a final ruling.
The decision does not settle the underlying case against the NCAA, but it allows him to enroll, practice and compete under college eligibility while litigation continues. That provisional scope explains the unusual nature of the situation, with a drafted prospect seeking one final college season without closing his professional pathway.
Draft status with the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected the 6-foot-9 forward with the 59th pick in the 2026 Draft and have been described as supportive of his wish to return to college. The team did not sign him to an official NBA contract after five Summer League appearances, and under this framework would retain his draft rights while he pursues the extra year.
The Summer League stint ended without a professional agreement, leaving the college return as a contractual pause rather than a separation. The organizational backing outlined in both reports frames the move as a coordinated delay of his NBA transition.
If full eligibility is ultimately upheld, the case could become a reference point for extended eligibility claims and draft-rights retention during academic-athletic disputes.
