Former Mizzou basketball center Shawn Phillips Jr. signed with the New Orleans Pelicans by NBA summer league contract Thursday, according to Mizzou Athletics.

Phillips becomes the seventh player to sign to a NBA contract under head coach Dennis Gates. Phillips’ teammate and guard Mark Mitchell signed to the Nuggets early Thursday.

Prior to the signing, Phillips joined a lawsuit against the NCAA due to the recent changes in eligibility ruling. The NCAA moved to an age-based eligibility model the governance announced on Tuesday. The model allows five years of eligibility to athletes if they enroll in college no later than the academic year after their 19th birthday, according to NCAA. 

Phillips filed suit in Ohio on Wednesday alongside 15 athletes across the country that are against the 5-in-5 system. A win in the suit would allow Phillips another year of eligibility in the NCAA under the new regulations. 

The center out of Dayton, Ohio, started 31 games for the Tigers during his 25-26 season with Mizzou.Â