Could Auburn’s Chaney Johnson Get Another Year of Eligibility? What Bruce Pearl Said
Auburn men’s basketball could see a surprising development regarding senior forward Chaney Johnson’s eligibility. Earlier this season, a ruling granted former junior college (JUCO) athletes an additional year of eligibility, allowing several Auburn players to extend their college careers. Now, there’s growing optimism that a similar ruling could apply to players who started at the Division II level.
This optimism stems from a recent legal case involving Wisconsin football player Nyzier Fourqurean. Fourqurean began his career at Division II Grand Valley State before transferring to Wisconsin. He filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, arguing for an extra year of eligibility. A judge granted him a preliminary injunction, which allowed him to continue playing for Wisconsin this season.
For Auburn, this ruling could have major implications for Chaney Johnson. Currently in his final year of eligibility, Johnson is playing his second season with the Tigers after transferring from Division II Alabama-Huntsville. He spent three seasons at the Division II level before joining Auburn, making the 2024-25 season his fifth year in college basketball. His extra year of eligibility was initially granted due to the NCAA’s COVID-19 rule, which allowed athletes who competed during the 2020-21 season an additional season of play.
With Fourqurean’s case setting a precedent, Johnson could also have a legitimate chance of being granted another year of eligibility. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl confirmed that the program is actively exploring the possibility.
“We’re certainly going to go through the process about seeing whether or not Chaney would be eligible for another year,” Pearl said. “We’re definitely going to go through the process.”
Johnson has shown significant improvement this season, averaging 10.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. This marks a notable jump from his first year at Auburn in 2023-24, when he averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds while playing 15.4 minutes per game.
If Auburn is successful in securing an additional year for Johnson, it would be a valuable boost for the Tigers as they look to maintain their dominance in college basketball.
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