The Ohio State basketball program may have just started a new loophole and trend when it comes to using an eligible player. Guard Puff Johnson, who originally played for North Carolina and Penn State, had used up all of his NCAA eligibility, but will now apparently get a shot at getting back on the court for the Buckeyes because of a temporary restraining order handed down by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on Friday.

Johnson had previously filed a lawsuit against the NCAA for another year of eligibility because of injury time missed, but was denied by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. This was after he applied for a medical hardship waiver through the NCAA.

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Johnson has been enrolled at Ohio State since July, but has not practicing with the team because of the uncertainty of the situation. Now that the TPO has been initiated, Johnson is eligible to play and can do so pending a hearing on January 30. Whatever comes of that will dictate what happens with his playing status through the remainder of the season. Regardless, head coach Jake Diebler has confirmed Johnson’s addition to the team, but has not yet provided a timeline of when he’ll be available to play. It would seemingly be tough to insert him straight into the lineup with practice time.

During his last year at Penn State, the 6-foot, 8-inch, 200-pound Johnson averaged 10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 23.1 minutes of play. His experience, length, and size would provide a much-needed boost to a bench that has struggled with consistency at times.

We’ll stay on top of this as further details emerge from Ohio State, and of course, after the hearing on January 30 that will determine his sixth-year in college basketball.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State basketball officially adds guard Puff Johnson to roster