Vanderbilt basketball's Tyler Nickel enters transfer portal without eligibility, here's why

Vanderbilt basketball's Tyler Nickel entered the transfer portal on April 19, USA TODAY Sports has learned. However, Nickel is a unique case because he does not have any eligibility currently, having played four years already. This was noted in his portal entry.

Nickel played one year at North Carolina, one year at Virginia Tech and two years with the Commodores. In 2025-26, he averaged 13. 5 points per game and shot 40% from 3-point range.

Nickel is one of multiple players without eligibility who have entered the transfer portal in this and previous offseasons on the chance that the NCAA changes its rules to grant them eligibility. Here is how Nickel could be granted eligibility: How could Tyler Nickel have NCAA eligibility? As it currently stands, Nickel does not have eligibility remaining.

However, some players in his situation have entered the transfer portal in hopes that the NCAA passes a rule it has been considering in which all athletes get five years of eligibility with no redshirts and limited waivers. Without the rule, there is no argument Nickel can make to get eligibility. He did not suffer any injuries in college or have any situations that could lead to him having an argument for a waiver.