Franck Kepnang appeared poised to return to Washington for another season, but shortly after the transfer portal opened, he unexpectedly entered his name. Now, he stands out as one of the most experienced shot blockers available, raising a common question: how does he still have eligibility left?
Kepnang began his college career in 2020 and has played across six seasons, now seeking a seventh—an unusually long stretch even by modern college basketball standards. Washington head coach Danny Sprinkle had expressed confidence that the NCAA would grant him another year, though the reasoning behind it isn’t entirely simple.
A 6-foot-11 graduate student, Kepnang started 25 games last season and ranked second in the Big Ten with 2.1 blocks per game. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Oregon, appearing in 17 games as a freshman and 35 as a sophomore. However, injuries limited him over the next three years, during which he played just 8, 10, and 14 games, respectively. He then appeared in 27 games last season.
Kepnang’s case for another year hinges on the fact that he has only completed two full seasons. Still, when combining the partial seasons, he has logged 49 games—roughly the equivalent of another season and a half—making his situation less clear-cut.
A key factor working in his favor is the 2020–21 COVID-19 season, which does not count against eligibility. Removing that year strengthens his case significantly. Factoring in a COVID waiver and multiple medical redshirts, Kepnang could realistically qualify for one final season.
However, that extra year will not be spent at Washington. His departure leaves Sprinkle with a thinner roster, forcing him to once again rely heavily on the transfer portal to rebuild, particularly in the frontcourt, where Kepnang’s return had provided some stability.
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