Marcus Hill Announces Plans to Return to NC State Next Year, Utilizing Extra Year of Eligibility from JUCO Ruling

After NC State’s 71-63 win over Pitt tonight, guard Marcus Hill shared with media members that he plans to use the extra year of eligibility granted by the JUCO ruling from December. This ruling allows all former JUCO players whose eligibility expires this athletic year an additional year in 2025-26.

“I’m going to take back my year for sure,” Hill said.

When asked if he intended to play that extra year at NC State, Hill replied, “Yeah, for sure. I told my mom, ‘You’re going to have to do this again next year,’ but she was happy she gets to do it.”

Hill is NC State’s leading scorer this year, averaging 11.6 points per game and shooting 46% from the field.

Before transferring to NC State, Hill played the 2023-24 season at Bowling Green, where he averaged 20.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, earning First-Team All-MAC honors.

Prior to joining the Division I ranks at Bowling Green, Hill spent his first two collegiate seasons at Southern Union State College in Alabama, part of the junior college (JUCO) system. In 2022-23, he earned Third-Team NJCAA All-American honors and was ranked the #32 overall junior college prospect.

Regarding the JUCO ruling mentioned earlier, a Tennessee federal judge originally determined that seasons played at the junior college level should not count against a player’s four years of NCAA eligibility. On December 23, the NCAA appealed this decision but agreed to grant an extra year of eligibility to all former JUCO players for the 2025-26 season while the case continues through the courts. If the NCAA loses its appeal in the lawsuit involving Diego Pavia, Hill could, in theory, have two additional years of eligibility. For now, however, it appears he’ll be back in NC State’s red and white next season.