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There has been a lot of scuttlebutt this week in the world of college basketball that the NCAA may adopt the "Five for Five" rule that would give players five years from their high school graduation or 19th birthday to compete in five seasons of collegiate sports.
If such a rule were to be adopted, there are discussions that current seniors who just finished a fourth-year of eligibility would be grandfathered in and given a fifth-year to play. Hence, many players who seemingly exhausted four years in college basketball entered their names in the transfer portal earlier this week, just in case an extra year of playing and getting payed is a possibility.
Reactions to the "Five for Five" have been varied, with St. John's Head Coach Rick Pitino saying it would cause a mess for next season while others have reported how some programs are saving NIL money in case the rules goes into effect.
When it comes to the NCAA, never underestimate the organization doing something that would cause chaos, as long as it doesn't mean lawsuits. In other words, if passing the "Five for Five," the NCAA would seemingly be more inclined to grandfather in players this season rather than face lawsuits from players saying they deserve the fifth year. As for the programs and coaches who would have to deal with the mess, it is doubtful the NCAA would be all that worried. See the implementation of NIL, which the NCAA passed without much rules or regulations, essentially leading to the Wild, Wild West of pay for play, leaving schools to figure out the new landscape.
In relation to the Illinois Fighting Illini, the "Five for Five" could possibly allow senior Kylan Boswell to get an extra year of eligibility. Boswell played his first two seasons at Arizona before returning to his hometown of Champaign to play for Illinois the past two seasons.
Boswell was only 17 years old when he began college and is now 21 years old. One goal of the "Five for Five" is to age out college basketball players at 24 years old; in other words, the NCAA does not want players in their mid-to-late twenties playing college sports.
With all of this considered, would it be wise for Illinois to bring back Boswell if the "Five for Five" went into effect and grandfathered senior players into college basketball?
Undoubtedly, Head Coach Brad Underwood would welcome back Boswell, who recently competed at the Portsmouth Invitational and sounds like someone who is ready to begin a pro career, whether in the NBA, the G League or overseas.
Yet, let's say things don't go as planned for Boswell on that front, and returning to college is a possibility sometime this summer.
Would Boswell have a change of heart and come back to Illinois for a third season and college basketball for a fifth season?
There are positives and negatives to Boswell returning.
On the plus side, Boswell is someone who cares greatly about the Illinois program. After breaking his hand in January, Boswell rushed back to help lead the Illini to the Final Four. He is a leader on and off the court with valuable experience, which coaches always love. While his defense is a bit overrated, Boswell would certainly help a team that may struggle defending opposing backcourts next season. Additionally, Boswell sacrificed a lot this past season as Keaton Wagler emerged into an All-American. With improved health, Boswell would be someone capable of showing more or just fitting in. Boswell is not someone Illinois would have to worry about in terms of fitting in and playing a defined role.
On the minus side, Boswell's return would take away minutes from Stefan Vaaks and Quentin Coleman, who figure to start in the backcourt next season. While Boswell brings many intangibles to the floor, he does not seem to fit Illinois basketball at this point in time. Granted Boswell was not fully healthy in March, but his shot is very inconsistent. Boswell only made one field goal from the Sweet Sixteen onward during the 2026 NCAA Tournament. It is quite amazing to think Illinois made the Final Four with two starters in Boswell and Jake Davis who were not real offensive threats.
Ultimately, I don't think Boswell is returning to Illinois anyways, though I feel this "Five for Five" rule is going to get passed and be a mess. Still, in this day and age of college basketball, I wouldn't close the door on anything.
If Boswell's return was a valid option, I would probably pass. It is time to see what Illinois has in Vaaks and Coleman, and to turn the offense over to David Mirkovic and Andrej Stojakovic.
Of course, I think Underwood and most Illinois fans would disagree with me and add Boswell in a heartbeat.
To me, Boswell has nothing left to prove in college basketball, helping lead his hometown school back to its first Final Four in 21 years, and cementing his place in Illini history as a senior leader on a most memorable team. It is time for Boswell to pursue his pro dreams. Coming back to be a potential bit player again doesn't seem to make sense and would only hurt his potential. He has sacrificed enough at Illinois, and it is time to put his pro dreams first and foremost.
In the case of Kylan Boswell returning to Illinois, I would be a Nay, which probably won't make me popular with Illini fans who love the story of the hometown kid playing for the Orange and Blue. While I have much respect for all Boswell gave the Illini, I am excited to see Vaaks, Coleman and some of these other freshman blend in with our core five of returning players.
Ultimately, I feel that all of this is just conjecture, as even if the "Five for Five" is adopted, Boswell seems done with college basketball and ready for something new in his playing career.
Nonetheless, a potential return of Boswell leads to a fascinating discussion.
If such a rule were to be adopted, there are discussions that current seniors who just finished a fourth-year of eligibility would be grandfathered in and given a fifth-year to play. Hence, many players who seemingly exhausted four years in college basketball entered their names in the transfer portal earlier this week, just in case an extra year of playing and getting payed is a possibility.
Reactions to the "Five for Five" have been varied, with St. John's Head Coach Rick Pitino saying it would cause a mess for next season while others have reported how some programs are saving NIL money in case the rules goes into effect.
When it comes to the NCAA, never underestimate the organization doing something that would cause chaos, as long as it doesn't mean lawsuits. In other words, if passing the "Five for Five," the NCAA would seemingly be more inclined to grandfather in players this season rather than face lawsuits from players saying they deserve the fifth year. As for the programs and coaches who would have to deal with the mess, it is doubtful the NCAA would be all that worried. See the implementation of NIL, which the NCAA passed without much rules or regulations, essentially leading to the Wild, Wild West of pay for play, leaving schools to figure out the new landscape.
In relation to the Illinois Fighting Illini, the "Five for Five" could possibly allow senior Kylan Boswell to get an extra year of eligibility. Boswell played his first two seasons at Arizona before returning to his hometown of Champaign to play for Illinois the past two seasons.
Boswell was only 17 years old when he began college and is now 21 years old. One goal of the "Five for Five" is to age out college basketball players at 24 years old; in other words, the NCAA does not want players in their mid-to-late twenties playing college sports.
With all of this considered, would it be wise for Illinois to bring back Boswell if the "Five for Five" went into effect and grandfathered senior players into college basketball?
Undoubtedly, Head Coach Brad Underwood would welcome back Boswell, who recently competed at the Portsmouth Invitational and sounds like someone who is ready to begin a pro career, whether in the NBA, the G League or overseas.
Yet, let's say things don't go as planned for Boswell on that front, and returning to college is a possibility sometime this summer.
Would Boswell have a change of heart and come back to Illinois for a third season and college basketball for a fifth season?
There are positives and negatives to Boswell returning.
On the plus side, Boswell is someone who cares greatly about the Illinois program. After breaking his hand in January, Boswell rushed back to help lead the Illini to the Final Four. He is a leader on and off the court with valuable experience, which coaches always love. While his defense is a bit overrated, Boswell would certainly help a team that may struggle defending opposing backcourts next season. Additionally, Boswell sacrificed a lot this past season as Keaton Wagler emerged into an All-American. With improved health, Boswell would be someone capable of showing more or just fitting in. Boswell is not someone Illinois would have to worry about in terms of fitting in and playing a defined role.
On the minus side, Boswell's return would take away minutes from Stefan Vaaks and Quentin Coleman, who figure to start in the backcourt next season. While Boswell brings many intangibles to the floor, he does not seem to fit Illinois basketball at this point in time. Granted Boswell was not fully healthy in March, but his shot is very inconsistent. Boswell only made one field goal from the Sweet Sixteen onward during the 2026 NCAA Tournament. It is quite amazing to think Illinois made the Final Four with two starters in Boswell and Jake Davis who were not real offensive threats.
Ultimately, I don't think Boswell is returning to Illinois anyways, though I feel this "Five for Five" rule is going to get passed and be a mess. Still, in this day and age of college basketball, I wouldn't close the door on anything.
If Boswell's return was a valid option, I would probably pass. It is time to see what Illinois has in Vaaks and Coleman, and to turn the offense over to David Mirkovic and Andrej Stojakovic.
Of course, I think Underwood and most Illinois fans would disagree with me and add Boswell in a heartbeat.
To me, Boswell has nothing left to prove in college basketball, helping lead his hometown school back to its first Final Four in 21 years, and cementing his place in Illini history as a senior leader on a most memorable team. It is time for Boswell to pursue his pro dreams. Coming back to be a potential bit player again doesn't seem to make sense and would only hurt his potential. He has sacrificed enough at Illinois, and it is time to put his pro dreams first and foremost.
In the case of Kylan Boswell returning to Illinois, I would be a Nay, which probably won't make me popular with Illini fans who love the story of the hometown kid playing for the Orange and Blue. While I have much respect for all Boswell gave the Illini, I am excited to see Vaaks, Coleman and some of these other freshman blend in with our core five of returning players.
Ultimately, I feel that all of this is just conjecture, as even if the "Five for Five" is adopted, Boswell seems done with college basketball and ready for something new in his playing career.
Nonetheless, a potential return of Boswell leads to a fascinating discussion.
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