Babacar Sane still didn’t get closure in his eligibility pursuit, but nonetheless received a positive outcome in court on Monday afternoon.
After a second hearing in which Sane and head coach Rick Pitino testified, the Queens Supreme Court couldn’t reach a decision on the St. John’s forward’s lawsuit against the NCAA.
Justice Karina E. Alomar requested a memorandum of law from both sides due by Tuesday, November 30, according to Zach Braziller. Sane can play for St. John’s under a temporary restraining
order until the court makes a ruling, so he will suit up in their non-conference battle against Syracuse this Sunday and their Players Era Festival trip later this month, in which the Red Storm will play Oregon, either Texas Tech or Louisville, and as many as two more teams.
The issue in Sane’s case revolves around Sane signing an Exhibit-10 contract with the Utah Jazz in 2024. Although Sane agreed to the contract, his attorney argues he did not compete, train, or attend training camp with the NBA team.
Sane signed with St. John’s after spending the last five years playing in the NBA G-League and other professional leagues in Europe and Africa, most recently putting up 9.9 points and 3.8 rebounds on 46.7% shooting with German club MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg last season. Prior to the start of this season, Sane was named one of the Red Storm’s co-captains.
The Senegalese forward put up five points and two rebounds off the bench in his Red Storm debut against Monmouth last week, then missed the Red Storm’s last game against Iona with a sprained ankle. It isn’t supposed to be a long absence, as Sane is expected to return when the Johnnies take on the Colgate Raiders (0-2) at Carnesecca Arena on Wednesday, November 11 (7:00 p.m., Peacock).
