IU's Luke Goode Seeks Fifth-Year Hardship Waiver

IU men's basketball season has come to an end, but one player is hoping his college career isn't over yet. Senior forward Luke Goode is seeking a fifth-year hardship waiver after playing just 10 games in his sophomore season at Illinois.

"It's not the typical situation where people would ask for waivers, but we got some people working on it, and I'd be very fortunate to play another year," Goode said. "I think with everything that's going on now in college basketball and all the extra years they're giving to JUCO kids and non-Division 1 kids and all that, I think only playing 10 games in the season would be more than justifiable."

Unfortunately for Goode, he doesn't meet either of the requirements to receive a hardship waiver. Players are supposed to play in no more than 30% of their team's games, and Goode played in 10 of Illinois' 33 games, which measures out to 30.3%. Additionally, players are only supposed to have played in the first half of the season to acquire the waiver.

However, one thing that could work in Goode's favor is the waiver that former IU guard Xavier Johnson received. Johnson played all of his games in the first half of the season when he received his hardship waiver, but he, like Goode, played more than the 30% threshold. Johnson played in 11 of IU's 35 games in 2022-23 (31.4%).

For Goode, it's all about representing IU, where his father and uncle played football for the Hoosiers.

"I'd do anything I can to play in the candy stripes again," Goode said.

"It's more than special to be able to come represent this jersey," Goode said. "So if I'm fortunate to get that year, I'd love nothing more than to represent this university once again."