Buffaloes star guard Julian Hammond III enters transfer portal despite no remaining eligibility

Julian Hammond III was the second-leading scorer for CU in the first round of the Big 12 Championship with 16 points. (Photo by Remi Krupinski/Sko Buffs Sports)

Colorado Buffaloes men’s basketball fans were surprised on Monday at the news of senior guard Julian Hammond III entering the transfer portal with no remaining years of eligibility. It was commonly known that Hammond would be leaving the program in 2025, but this wasn’t the way fans expected it to happen. 

Hammond was a senior in high school during the 2020 season, making him ineligible for the extra “Covid” year of eligibility granted to college athletes who were playing at the time. Additionally, he never redshirted, so he was exclusively hoping to be given an extra year by the NCAA. 

Hammond’s best chance at more eligibility is an ongoing lawsuit against the NCAA by four players from Duke and North Carolina. Their case argued for a fifth year of eligibility on the grounds of injuries and personal issues. 

“The NCAA has been taken to court repeatedly in recent years, and especially over the last few months,” said SBNation’s Ricky O’Donnell. “The NCAA keeps losing, and it sure seems like they don't want any more litigation.”

Unfortunately for Hammond, the court ruled in favor of the NCAA on Tuesday, leaving any argument he may have had at a fifth year bleak to say the least.

However, Hammond’s decision to enter the portal was very low-risk, high-reward. If he is somehow able to gain another year of eligibility, he would be among the best available at his position. This would not only enable him to continue his career but also land a sizable NIL payout from whatever team he ends up signing with. 

Over 150 other players made this same decision in recent weeks, but their odds now look slim with the court’s ruling.

“They will be of a lost generation,” said Dianan Florence, one of the attorneys on the case.