Texas transfer guard Jordan Pope commits to Texas A&M hoops

Former Texas guard Jordan Pope has announced his commitment to Texas A&M.

At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Pope averaged 13.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists as a senior for the Longhorns. He shot 39.9 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from 3-point range and 84 percent at the free-throw line.

Pope already exhausted his college eligibility, playing at least 30 games in four straight seasons, including two at Oregon State and two at Texas. With the new “5-for-5” eligibility rules passing, a collection of seniors who graduated this spring before the rule change went into effect have started suing the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility.

On July 31, Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to declare eligible all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted four seasons of eligibility last spring. Pope is included in that grouping, meaning he could join a new team for his final year, with Texas’ roster already full.

After an order from the NCAA forced Judge Sweeney to clarify her ruling, she later clarified that transfer portal rules did not apply to those high school class of 2022 athletes who gained an additional year of eligibility. Pope entered the portal back in April before this mess started, and on top of that, he was named as a defendant in an age-based lawsuit in California against the NCAA. Further, Pope’s attorneys Darren Heitner and Ryan Downton are fighting for a temporary restraining order to grant Pope the ability to enter the transfer portal and find a new school for his year of eligibility without punishment. If they win that lawsuit, Pope would be protected regardless of the NCAA’s response to appeal the Colorado injunction on the rev share and roster limit side. His portal and eligibility status are already more certain from entering the portal and where this Colorado injunction sits currently. This staff believes the path has been cleared for Pope to transfer to A&M and have it stick against any NCAA appeals.

Throughout his career, Pope has thrived as a playmaker in clutch situations, something A&M fans don’t need to be reminded of. In five games against the Aggies, Pope reached double figures four times and put up 17 points in both Lone Star Showdown meetings last season.

This move comes with Bucky McMillan looking to bolster his backcourt with his final roster spot, as Pope serves as an immediately proven SEC guard who can play at this level and fit this system. He is a high-volume 3-point shooter who shot over 37 percent on 6.4 attempts last season, plus he’s already proved he can be a difference-maker in the SEC.

He is coming off a major foot injury after breaking his foot in the Round of 32 against Gonzaga and then playing on it in the Sweet 16. Nearly five months into his recovery journey, Pope should be fully healthy in time for the season.

Pope is eligible, for now, as one of the athletes who meets the criteria of Judge Sweeney’s ruling and has already entered the portal, and now he awaits further protection in the California lawsuit. We will continue to monitor his situation as the NCAA pushes back and more clarity comes for the 5-in-5 athletes.