Aug. 26, 2026, 5:18 p.m. MT
Center Jaxon Kohler’s eligibility for the upcoming season hinges on a California lawsuit.A court hearing on September 29 is critical for determining Kohler’s playing status.Kohler’s eligibility is further complicated by varying court rulings and NCAA appeals across different states.
BYU‘s basketball prospects are looking up this season. Head coach Kevin Young has beaten out former Cougar coach and current Kentucky head coach Mark Pope for multiple transfers this season, including Robert Wright III and Jaxon Kohler.
The addition of former Michigan State center was huge for the Cougars. BYU needed a big man, and Kohler is the guy, at least for now. Kohler is able to play due to a California lawsuit that is helping players from the high school class of 2022 to gain an extra year of eligibility under the new five-for-five NCAA rule.
There are appeals to this lawsuit in many states and stays that have been granted in favor of the NCAA, making some players ineligible.
Sept. 29 is a huge day for BYU basketball because that is when the California case that Kohler is involved in will be heard in front of a judge. If that injunction gets stayed, then Jaxon’s eligibility status could be up in the air heading into the season.
Having the case being heard in California definitely helps Kohler’s case of remaining eligible, but nothing is 100% certain.
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What is more certain is that since Kohler never officially signed any sort of contract with the Utah Jazz, he will be eligible under the likely rule to pass that does not allow any Big 12 player to go back to college if they signed any contract at the pro level.
With the way the courts have been going, the decision will not be 100% clear for some time, and that makes the Sept. 29 date important for Kohler’s eligibility for BYU.
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