Mizzou hoops guard ruled ineligible 1 day before season opener
By Mark Kern
Published:
Mizzou is gearing up for a 2026 season that has a lot of hype coming out of Columbia. With a talented transfer portal and an elite recruiting class, Dennis Gates has a team that could be in for a big-time year.
The Tigers have had better starts to a season, though.
Just before the season-opener against Gates’ former school, Cleveland State, the Tigers received news that DePaul transfer CJ Gunn has been ruled ineligible by the SEC. Mizzou had been preparing for this decision for some time, so it isn’t a complete shock to the staff.
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During the off-season, Gunn played in three games in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in May. He received $524 dollars, thus making him ineligible under the letter of the SEC rule. He paid back the money but that is still a conference rule. With teams having to present their rosters to the SEC by Monday night, the Tigers will not be appealing this decision.
That’s not the only news in Missouri basketball, as Tennessee transfer Jaylen Carey has been suspended for a violation of team rules. He was looked at as a projected starter after averaging 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Volunteers last season.
His status moving forward is unknown, and the Tigers have a big in-state battle on Friday against St. Louis.
