Baylor University has added 21-year-old center James Nnaji, selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, to its roster with four years of immediate eligibility. The move, approved by an NCAA committee, highlights the evolving landscape of college basketball amid ongoing lawsuits and rule interpretations. Coaches like Michigan State's Tom Izzo have criticized the decision, calling it a travesty.
James Nnaji, a 7-foot Nigerian center, never signed an NBA contract after being drafted and instead played professionally in Europe while appearing in five NBA Summer League games for the New York Knicks in July 2025. News of his enrollment at Baylor broke on December 24, 2025, allowing him to join the Bears midseason under coach Scott Drew. A Baylor spokesperson confirmed Nnaji's immediate eligibility for four seasons, based on an NCAA committee's interpretation rather than a strict rule.
This development follows NCAA guidelines permitting pro-to-college transitions within five years of high school graduation, though applications are evaluated individually. The NCAA stated, “Each eligibility case is evaluated and decided individually based on the facts presented. Schools continue to recruit and enroll individuals with professional playing experience, which NCAA rules allow with parameters.” Officials noted ongoing lawsuits challenge these standards, emphasizing the need for congressional support to enforce rules and protect high school athletes.
The case has sparked backlash from veteran coaches. Michigan State's Tom Izzo, after learning of Nnaji's approval, said, “I thought I’d seen the worst. Then Christmas came. It topped it.” He criticized the NCAA for avoiding lawsuits at the expense of clear leadership, adding, “Shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too... I’m thinking of, what is best for my son if he was in that position.” UConn's Dan Hurley posted on social media, "Santa Claus is delivering mid season acquisitions… this s*** is crazy!!" Villanova's Kevin Willard called the NCAA “totally clueless, lost.”
Nnaji's addition is part of a broader trend. International pros like Serbia's Aleksa Ristic at Indiana and European players at Illinois have joined college rosters. BYU added former G League center Abdullah Ahmed, who played 54 games with the Westchester Knicks. Former Indiana coach Tom Crean predicted more such moves before the semester starts.
Interest has also surfaced in Chicago Bulls two-way player Trentyn Flowers, a 6-foot-9 forward who played in NBA games on December 3 and 7, 2025. Reports indicated recruitment by programs like Washington, NC State, and USC, though some initial lists were clarified as inaccurate. Flowers, a top-25 recruit who briefly attended Louisville before turning pro, averaged 1.8 points in six Clippers games this season. An NBA executive noted, “He’s a good player, he would be a great player in college.”
Izzo warned that fluid rules could frustrate fans and drive coaches from the game, questioning, “If that’s the way it is... let’s go pro if that’s the way it is. But let’s not be half you-know-what.” The influx underscores college basketball's shift toward professionalization in the NIL and revenue-sharing era, with late-December signings potentially impacting the NCAA Tournament.
