Inside the College Basketball Fifth Year Journey and the Decision to Return

In March of 2020, the NCAA made a groundbreaking decision to extend the college eligibility of athletes whose seasons were affected by Covid-19. This decision had a profound impact on Liz Kitley, a center at Virginia Tech, who vividly recalls the moment she received the life-changing news.

“I’ll never forget it. I was in our practice facility. It was before my sophomore year, so I’d only played one season, and then my assistant coach came out and said, ‘Yeah, Liz, everyone gets an extra year.’”

Over three years have passed since that moment, and this year’s seniors represent the last of the Covid class. They face a decision that will shape their futures, but with the introduction of new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules in 2021, the weight of that decision has changed.

“I think it just changed the way I looked at things,” says Kitley, who initially considered entering the WNBA Draft or playing overseas after her fourth year at Tech.

For Endyia Rogers, a guard at Texas A&M, NIL played a significant role in her choice to take the fifth year. With the ability to earn money while still competing at the college level, Rogers sees this extra year as an “opportunity to build yourself up financially, saving your money up for what you’re gonna do afterward.”

Most athletes don’t go pro after college, making this additional year of eligibility their final chance to play the sport that has defined their lives.

However, Boo Buie, a guard at Northwestern University, has always been focused on making it to the professional league.

“My goal as a competitor, as an athlete, is always to make it professionally,” he says. “But halfway through my senior year—we just were having an unbelievable year—I just really wanted to come back.”

After leading his team to the NCAA Tournament and setting a record for Big Ten wins, Buie is eager to make this season even more memorable. Every athlete taking a fifth year shares a common desire to elevate the level of competition in the upcoming season.

USC’s Boogie Ellis echoes this sentiment, recognizing that the NBA isn’t going anywhere. As a fifth-year point guard, Ellis intends to make a lasting impact with the Trojans. With the addition of rising stars like Bronny James and Isaiah Collier, Ellis is committed to the long-term goal. Like many other athletes, he views this year as an opportunity to enhance his skills and become the best version of himself before entering the NBA draft.

Rickea Jackson’s upcoming season will be her first without adjusting to a new coaching staff. As a forward at Tennessee, she played under three different coaches during her first three seasons at Mississippi State. However, after transferring to Tennessee for her senior year, she recognized the value of staying with a familiar coach, even if it meant only having one season together.

“Having that consistency in my life is something that I’ve craved,” she says. “And now I have it.”

Photos via Getty Images.