It sounds like Chris Ledlum’s and Jordan Dingle’s days as college basketball players are over.
A Queens judge has denied the St. John’s duo’s request for injunctive relief in their case against the NCAA, according to sources.
The former Ivy League players, who transferred into the program last offseason and were starters most of the year, are suing the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility.
Since the Ivy League didn’t play in 2020-21 – the year that was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t count as part of a student-athlete’s four years of eligibility – Ledlum and Dingle never got a fifth year like others.
Their waivers for a fifth year were denied by the NCAA, and so they took the NCAA to court, claiming that the governing sports body was in violation of New York antitrust and NIL laws and alleging that they are suffering “irreparable harm” from losing out on a fifth year.
The judge didn’t see it their way, however.
St. John’s was hoping to bring the duo back, believing they would add to an already strong roster.
Sophomores RJ Luis and Zuby Ejiofor and freshmen Brady Dunlap and Simeon Wilcher are all returning, forming a quality young nucleus that was fortified by key transfer additions Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall), Deivon Smith (Utah) and Aaron Scott (North Texas).
The Johnnies are somewhat thin up front, and felt bringing back Ledlum would have solved that problem.
Instead, they will need to look elsewhere to fill that void.
Florida State transfer Jamir Watkins, who is testing the NBA draft waters – players have until Wednesday to take their name out of the draft – is one possibility.
Even without Ledlum and Dingle, St. John’s only has one open scholarship remaining.