Akron Zips basketball's Evan Mahaffey reflects on fight for NCAA eligibility

Evan Mahaffey received the loudest ovation of any University of Akron basketball player on Friday, Oct. 30, during the Zips' tipoff reception at House Three Thirty.Mahaffey was also prominently featured in a Fear the Roo Collective hype video shown at the event and then posted on social media. He is among a few Zips players who have been displayed in graphics announcing UA's schedule and promotions for the 2026-27 season.Simply put, Mahaffey is the main connective tissue on the roster to Akron's 2025-26 team, which, in March, became the first men's squad to ever three-peat as the Mid-American Conference Tournament champion."Evan changes the game for us," Dustin Ford, who succeeded John Groce as Akron's head coach on March 30, told the Beacon Journal. "I mean, he's a guy that's a proven all-league player. He's one of the five best players in the league, if not the best. I'm glad he's on our team."The Zips are just hoping the 22-year-old Mahaffey remains eligible to play.A versatile 6-foot-6 wing, Mahaffey is among the many 2022 high school graduates throughout the country who have been fighting for a fifth year of NCAA eligibility.The Akron men's hoops team has two players who fit the description — Mahaffey and guard Kamrin Oriol, who transferred from North Florida in September. Both players are eligible and expressed optimism the status quo will be maintained. Akron is scheduled to open the season at Louisiana on Nov. 2.Zips sports column: Dustin Ford's family gives Akron basketball belief he's ready | OpinionA Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller High School graduate, Mahaffey said the uncertainty surrounding his eligibility "definitely has" been stressful."Just through the ups and downs of just not knowing what's going to happen, it can definitely just turn into a lot," said Mahaffey, who played at Penn State and Ohio State before joining Akron last season. "But at the same time, it's basketball at the end of day, and I'm going to just try to focus on that part of it and not worry about anything else."In June, the NCAA passed a rule granting players five seasons of eligibility. However, players who graduated from high school in 2022 were excluded. Lawsuits ensued across the nation.On Oct. 29, the Ohio Supreme Court filed an order keeping two dozen players, including Mahaffey and former Zips Amani Lyles and Tavari Johnson, available to play by preserving a previous ruling made earlier in October. Lyles transferred to Cincinnati, where Mahaffey's younger brother, Eric, will play after spending last season at Akron. Johnson transferred to the College of Charleston, where Groce took the head coaching job in late March after spending the past nine seasons guiding the Zips.Speaking on stage during Akron's season preview event, Zips athletic director Andrew T. Goodrich joked about nearly falling out of his chair with excitement when he learned of the Ohio Supreme Court news on Oct. 29.26-27 Basketball starts NOW‼️#GoZips🦘#MakeTheClimbpic.twitter.com/md3s1sj5mY— Akron Zips MBB (@ZipsMBB) October 30, 2026At a July 1 hearing, Evan Mahaffey and Ford provided testimony in the case, according to Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas records."I could check it off my bucket list, I guess," Ford said. "I had to be in court and be under oath, but it was for the right reason. I would do it over again. Evan is the type of kid that you want in college athletics. He's working on his MBA. He's an unbelievable student. He's an unbelievable person. Why would we exclude that class? I don't know why we would, to be quite honest, and I'm trying to still figure that out to this day."But that's neither here nor there. I'm thankful that the [Ohio] Supreme Court ruled in the favor of the student-athlete, and it was the right thing to do by the student-athlete. I'm glad that he's eligible, and he makes us a whole hell of a lot better basketball team."More Zips coverage: Akron men's basketball schedule includes ESPN Events InvitationalOriol is a plaintiff in a case against the NCAA being heard in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County in California, according to court records. He began his college basketball career at The Master's University, an NAIA school in Santa Clarita, California. "The offseason's definitely been crazy," Oriol said. "But I'm just a strong believer in just being patient and not worrying because worrying really doesn't get you anywhere."Like Mahaffey, Oriol is also working toward at MBA at Akron.Mahaffey and Oriol scored 18 points apiece during Akron's 92-76 win over Youngstown State in an exhibition game on Oct. 27 at Rhodes Arena. The only Zips player who scored more was transfer point guard Tahj Staveskie (28 points). Staveskie previously played for Canisius, Cleveland State and Incarnate Word.On Oct. 20, Mahaffey and Staveskie were named Preseason All-Mid-American Conference Second Team selections. Akron was projected to finish third in the conference in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Miami and Toledo took the top two spots, respectively.Last season, Mahaffey started all 35 of Akron's games and averaged 10.2 points on 57.8% shooting from the floor (30.4% on 3-pointers), 5.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.8 blocked shots and 28.5 minutes. Mahaffey was voted All-MAC honorable mention and named to the All-MAC defensive team.Ford said Mahaffey will play more point forward during the upcoming season, and Mahaffey envisions a new role in his fifth college season boosting his chances to continue his career at the professional level."I think it would just increase my stock, honestly," Mahaffey said. "I feel like it's just another year to show my expanding game. I think Ford's given me a lot more freedom, a lot more opportunity, to play and show my game more, so I'm just really excited."Mahaffey and Oriol said they believe Akron can maintain its winning culture as the program transitions to Ford, an assistant at UA throughout the Groce era. What was left unsaid by the two players is their eligibility will be a huge factor in determining how the 2026-27 Zips fare.The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be emailed at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips basketball's Evan Mahaffey reflects on fight for NCAA eligibility