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College of Charleston basketball player Connor Hickman will be allowed to on the court as he battles the NCAA over a fifth year of eligibility.
The transfer received good news after taking legal action. He is, for the time being, out of college basketball purgatory.
Hickman has technically played four seasons at the DI level after starting his career in 2021. He spent three of those campaigns at Bradley before moving on for one year at Cincinnati.
It is that most recent season which has now come under scrutiny.
The transfer has not played in a College of Charleston basketball game.
At Bradley, he blossomed into a star. He averaged a career-high 14.5 points per game for the Braves as a junior.
Hickman buoyed that production into a Cincinnati offer. He was hit with adversity almost immediately.
The guard complained of foot pain a month into his senior season. He was diagnosed with a stress fracture after an evaluation by the medical staff.
At the time, it was recommended that he reduce his playing time in order to heal. His minutes were cut in half over his next five games.
In February, he chose to have season-ending foot surgery. That option was not presented to him at the time of his initial evaluation. Cincinnati admitted to that fact, as well as a potential misdiagnosis.
“I don’t know if we diagnosed it correctly.”
The decision to continue playing, even with load management, proved costly. Hickman appeared in 13 games to exceed the 30% redshirt threshold. He did not complete the season, yet his eligibility was effectively burned.
He transferred to College of Charleston with the intent of returning to the basketball court. After a months-long back and forth with the NCAA, he’s taken action.
Connor Hickman filed a restraining order.
State of South Carolina grants Charleston guard Connor Hickman temporary restraining order to play his 5th year after injury derailed his season a year ago. Injunction hearing scheduled sometime next week.
Now the question becomes whether the NCAA will really fight to pull… https://t.co/2QnhCMsGm7
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 18, 2025
It was granted this week. Hickman will be able to play in the Cougars’ next game.
For now, that status is only temporary. He has a virtual court date on November 25th in which he’ll likely get a final answer on his future.
In a day and age where college athletes are exploiting every loophole to extend eligibility, this case differs. Connor Hickman shouldn’t be punished for the mistakes of others.
He’ll be able to play for the time being. We’ll soon see if the NCAA makes that status permanent.