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Fellow USC forward Rashaun Agee, who followed Thomas into the transfer portal Tuesday, was among those also keeping his options open, hoping the courts would clear the way — in his case, for a seventh year at the college level.

The door could be open for a return to USC for Thomas or Agee, if either is able to secure a waiver for another season.

Agee, in the aftermath of USC’s Big Ten tournament loss, made clear that he also hoped to return to USC if he could.

“Hopefully it all works out for me,” Agee said then.

As lawsuits continue to pile up challenging the NCAA’s five-year eligibility rules, it’s not out of the question that the courts could deliver for players like Agee who are crossing their fingers for another season of eligibility.