The Chicago Bulls may have unearthed a hidden gem in undrafted free agent guard Donovan Atwell, but the NCAA's new 5-in-5 eligibility rule and the chaos it quickly caused could send Atwell back to the college ranks and cost the Bulls a valuable asset.
Atwell finished his senior season at Texas Tech and entered the draft as a borderline second-round pick. Chicago, in search of shooting, nabbed the 23-year-old on what was assumed to be an Exhibit-10 contract, and Atwell joined the team in Las Vegas for Summer League.
The 6-foot-5 guard was productive enough in Sin City for the Bulls to want to keep him around, at least through training camp. But the NCAA's new eligibility rule and a handful of lawsuits that followed have dramatically changed that equation.
The Bulls found a potential steal in Donovan Atwell
Bulls executive VP of basketball operations Bryson Graham aced his first test when he used the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to select Caleb Wilson, but his touted scouting chops were on better display when he added Atwell.
After leading the Red Raiders with 130 made threes last season — and shooting them at a 45.8 percent clip — he tied for the eighth-most made threes per game in Las Vegas (3.2).
His 45.8 percent 3-point shooting over those five games ranked seventh.
A 6-foot-5 knockdown shooter like Atwell has a place in the NBA, and especially on this Chicago roster. But as it turns out, he never officially signed that Exhibit-10 deal, which has suddenly created a problem for the Bulls.
5-in-5 eligibility rule, ensuing lawsuits mean Atwell can return to college
In a nutshell, the 5-in-5 rule gives NCAA athletes five years of eligibility across five collegiate seasons. The goal is to eliminate redshirt years and eligibility questions. Most importantly in this context, the rule was set to kick in for students who enroll in 2027.
However, a federal court ruled that all athletes from the 2022 class who have exhausted their eligibility can now play that fifth season. That includes Atwell. And because he never officially signed his Exhibit-10 deal with the Bulls, he's entitled to return to school.
So now, he has a choice to make: Sign with an NBA team and attend training camp in the hopes of landing a roster spot or two-way deal, or go back to Texas Tech for one more year.
If he chooses the latter route, Atwell could cash in on an NIL deal and probably make more money than he would in The League this season. And if he plays well, he could be drafted next summer and have a better chance at sticking on an NBA roster.
The Bulls could use a player like Atwell. But thanks to the latest NCAA eligibility chaos, Graham may have to try to dig up another overlooked gem.
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