Former Purdue forward Trey Kaufman-Renn has been granted a temporary restraining order by a judge in Clark County that at least for now makes him eligible to play college basketball during the 2026-27 season.
Kaufman-Renn, a first-team All-Big Ten pick with the Boilermakers in 2024-25 who ranks in the top 20 in program history in scoring and in rebounds, announced later Wednesday afternoon that he is looking for a team for the upcoming season, but that it will not be Purdue.
“Thank you Purdue,” Kaufman-Renn’s post on Instagram began. “Four truly unforgettable years. Grateful for my teammates, Coaches, Coach (Matt) Painter, the Paint Crew, and Boiler Nation.
“My chapter in black and gold has come to an end, but Purdue will always be a part of me. I’m officially eligible for the 2026-27 college basketball season and excited for what’s next. Once a Boilermaker, always a Boilermaker.”
Kaufman-Renn appeared to have exhausted his eligibility at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, when he helped Purdue to the Elite Eight. He was picked in the second round of the NBA draft, No. 59 overall, by the Minnesota Timberwolves and played Summer League games with the team in July.
In June, the NCAA adopted the so-called “five for five” rule that permits a fifth season of competition for players in the 2023 high school class and younger. Dozens of players from the 2022 high school class have subsequently sued the NCAA for a fifth season of eligibility, as well.
Kaufman-Renn’s case is different because he has already been in college for five years – four playing seasons and a redshirt year in 2021-22. It remains unclear whether he will actually be eligible to play this season because the NCAA has won reversals in recent months on some eligibility cases that were initially granted temporary restraining orders.
“It was just hearing that a lot of players who are in similar positions are going to get another year to play college basketball, another year to get paid a lot of money,” said Kaufman-Renn, who filed his lawsuit in August. “I said, ‘Why shouldn’t I be in that group?’ We talked about it and it doesn’t make sense why.”
At least half a dozen schools have contacted Kaufman-Renn about playing for their team this season, he said Wednesday, mentioning potential revenue-sharing payments substantially beyond what he would make with the Timberwolves’ NBA G League affiliate or even on a second-round pick’s contract in the NBA.
Returning to Purdue was likely off the table because the Boilermakers constructed their team this offseason on the assumption Kaufman-Renn would not be on it. The Boilers have a full roster of 15 players already and would likely have had to cut someone to create a spot for their former star big man.