Creighton University basketball player Grant Gibbs  was granted a sixth year of collegiate eligibility by the NCAA on Tuesday.

Gibbs, a 6-foot-5 guard, prepped at Linn-Mar. He is a two-year starter for the Bluejays, who are 57-14 with him in the lineup. He led the Missouri Valley Conference in assists the past two seasons.

Gibbs averaged 8.5 points, 5.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds last season. He and Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams were the only two players in the nation with at least 300 points, 200 assists and 145 rebounds.

Gibbs spent his first two seasons in college at Gonzaga. He red-shirted his freshman year with a shoulder (labrum) injury.

Gibbs transferred to Creighton for the 2010-11 season. He had to sit out the year as a transfer, but was unable to practice with the Blue Jays because of microfracture knee surgery.

Because of his injuries, the NCAA chose to grant him an extra year of eligibility.

Creighton Coach Greg McDermott said Gonzaga Coach Mark Few was instrumental in helping Gibbs receive the extra year, according to a report on espn.com.

McDermott also said Gibbs is in good health and had been preparing to play pro basketball overseas if his petition was turned down by the NCAA.