The addition of Washington transfer big man Franck Kepnang to Kentucky Basketball has generated excitement, but has also sparked questions from some fans regarding his eligibility status for the upcoming season.
Kepnang, a member of the class of 2020, is entering what would be his seventh year of college basketball. However, his situation is not uncommon in today’s NCAA landscape, where multiple eligibility waivers, injuries, and the COVID-19 season have significantly altered career timelines.
Players
who competed during the 2020 season were granted an additional year of eligibility due to COVID-19 rules. When combined with a potential redshirt year and medical redshirt opportunities, players in similar situations have been able to extend their careers beyond the traditional five-year window.
Across six collegiate seasons, Kepnang has played full or partial seasons in multiple years, including appearing in 27 games and starting 25 contests last season while averaging 6.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game on 51.5% shooting in 22.9 minutes per contest.
A comparable case can be found in former Kentucky forward Cam’Ron Fletcher, who was also part of the 2020 recruiting class and recently received approval for a seventh year of eligibility at High Point after a similar combination of injuries and limited-season participation.
Ironically, both had the bulk of their injury woes over a three-season stretch from 2022-25. During that span, Kepnang was limited to 32 games due to injury, including a torn ACL in December of 2022.
Fletcher, meanwhile, was limited to 28 games over that same span due to his injuries, which included a torn ACL in December of 2023. Therefore, Fletcher’s case should provide hope that Kepnang will ultimately get that seventh year of eligiblity.
Plus, if Kentucky did not feel confident in getting Kepnang eligible, they would not have gone all in to secure his commitment for an additional season. This should be a straightforward case for the NCAA to grant Kepnang eligibility for his seventh and final season.
