​How NCAA’s New Eligibility Rules Changed Paul Mbiya’s Status at KansasThe NCAA’s new eligibility model continues to reshape college basketball, and Kansas center Paul Mbiya is one of the latest players affected by the changes.After arriving in Lawrence last season as a freshman, Mbiya was expected to enter the 2026-27 campaign as a sophomore. Instead, the 6-foot-11 center is now officially listed as a junior on Kansas Athletics’ roster following the NCAA’s adoption of its new eligibility rules for international athletes.Mbiya, who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, spent the 2024-25 season playing professionally with ASVEL Basket in France, competing in both the EuroLeague and LNB Élite before joining Bill Self’s program. Those professional seasons now factor differently into the NCAA’s updated eligibility framework.The NCAA’s recently implemented “five-in-five” model limits athletes to five seasons of competition within a five-year window while also placing greater emphasis on an athlete’s age and previous professional experience. Since Mbiya was born on April 11, 2005, he will turn 22 following the upcoming season, leading Kansas to classify him as a junior rather than a sophomore.While the designation has changed, it remains unclear whether the ruling will significantly reduce Mbiya’s remaining collegiate eligibility. Because he would not turn 24 until after what would be his fourth NCAA season, the practical impact may ultimately be minimal. He was never expected to have more than four seasons of college basketball eligibility, leaving uncertainty over whether anything beyond his class standing has actually changed.Regardless of the technicalities, Mbiya is expected to play a much larger role for the Jayhawks this season.The former international standout generated excitement during limited action as a freshman, particularly with flashes of his defensive potential late in the year and during the NCAA Tournament. Standing 6-foot-11 with an impressive 7-foot-8 wingspan, Mbiya possesses the physical tools to become one of Kansas’ top rim protectors.His importance has only increased following Christian Reeves’ shoulder surgery, which leaves questions surrounding the Jayhawks’ center rotation entering the season. Kansas has also continued exploring frontcourt additions while awaiting an eligibility decision on Serbian big man Mihailo Mušikić.As college athletics continues adapting to sweeping eligibility changes, cases like Mbiya’s illustrate how the new rules are affecting international players differently than traditional NCAA athletes. Even if the junior designation has little impact on his overall career timeline, it reflects another layer of complexity introduced by the NCAA’s evolving eligibility landscape.Join the CommunityDon’t miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!It’s completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writer