Dillon Hunter sues NCAA in Pickens County for fifth season of eligibility

Nov. 5—CLEMSON — Dillon Hunter has taken his latest swing at getting a fifth season of eligibility.Hunter, a would-be fifth year guard for Clemson's men's basketball, is suing the NCAA in Pickens County court. He's requesting a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and permanent injunction in order to play this season, according to court documents obtained by The Post and Courier. TigerIllustrated's Larry Williams was the first to report the move.Clemson University is also named as a defendant in the case.A court note from the online record states "an expedited hearing shall be scheduled for this motion," but no hearing date is listed.Hunter previously won an eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA in Georgia. The NCAA appealed the ruling and was granted a stay in the case, reversing the decision temporarily until the appeal process was complete. After oral arguments were scheduled for January, more than halfway through the 2026-2027 season, Hunter voluntarily dismissed himself from the case without prejudice on Oct. 27.His dismissal opened the door for Hunter to join a lawsuit in McLennan County (Tx.), which was already nearing a decision before he was listed as a named plaintiff for the first time on Oct. 27.The judge in Texas dismissed Hunter and others from the case on Oct. 30 "for lack of personal jurisdiction."Clemson head coach Brad Brownell wasn't willing to comment extensively on the matter and said Hunter and the Tigers are exploring every option.Hunter has been practicing with the team and taking classes, but he was not allowed to play in the Tigers' two preseason exhibitions against Georgia and the Presbyterian, nor the season opener against Stetson on Nov. 2.Clemson thought Hunter had played his last year of eligibility in 2025-2026, where he averaged 7.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, starting in all 35 games for the Tigers. He originally intended to sign with a professional team in Germany after finishing the season.Then, the NCAA debuted its new "5 in 5" eligibility model in June. It gives all players five seasons to play from their first year of college or nineteenth birthday, whichever comes first, eliminating the use of redshirts and hardship waivers. There was just one catch:All players from the high school class of 2022, many of which just finished their fourth year of eligibility and would theoretically have another year under the new system, were excluded from the rule change. The NCAA determined the players shouldn't be allowed to return or transfer elsewhere for another season.Hunter was a part of this excluded group.A month later, a Colorado federal judge ruled in Wisne v. NCAA that all class of 2022 students should be eligible. That ruling was also appealed and stayed, but it opened the door for players to sue for extra seasons in local courts to varying degrees of success.Hunter entered his name into the Georgia lawsuit in August, shortly after the Wisne ruling.One of what would be eight returners, Hunter would be a huge boost to a point guard position that's currently in the hands of junior Ace Buckner and freshman Harris Reynolds. Sophomore guard Zac Foster, who was expected to run the point for Clemson when he returned from an ACL tear sustained last December, re-tore his ACL in October and is out indefinitely.Clemson is also without Carter Welling potentially until ACC play begins in late December. He tore his ACL in March.The Tigers play their next game vs. American on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. Unless Hunter receives a decision in the new lawsuit before then, he won't be available to play.Reach Jackson Castellano at jcastellano@postandcourier.com. Follow him on X @jaxacastellano.Want the latest Clemson news delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to The Tiger Take.