Judge Grants Baseball Star Fifth Season in NCAA Lawsuit

A Portsmouth judge has issued a temporary stay, allowing former Maury High baseball star Alvin "Tre" Keels III to play a fifth season at Longwood University. Keels filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, challenging its new eligibility rules that permit athletes five years to play five seasons. This rule, effective since August, generally applies from a student's enrollment or their 19th birthday, with exceptions for pregnancy, military, or missions.

The NCAA did not make the rule retroactive for 2022 freshmen who played four seasons in four years. Keels' lawsuit, filed on September 17, argues this exclusion is contrary to the rule's wording. He contends he is within five years of enrollment and has only played four seasons, thus meriting a fifth year.

Keels seeks to regain the opportunity to earn name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation and play in front of professional scouts. A hearing is scheduled for November to determine if his fifth season will be permanently granted. This situation mirrors other lawsuits filed nationwide by 2022 freshmen challenging similar NCAA exclusions.

In its response, the NCAA argued Keels had already exhausted his four-year eligibility under previous rules. However, Judge Douglas Ottinger granted the temporary stay during an emergency hearing on Monday, acknowledging Keels' hard work and pursuit of his baseball dreams. His family expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue his career.