Well, this is going to get interesting. This is just the first one now that the precedent has been set. Other schools will be looking at this possibility to land a talented former nba draft pick. The portal has already created the Wild West recruiting atmosphere and now we have nba draft picks enrolling and immediately eligible at the semester break.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/baylor-former-nba-draft-pick-james-nnaji/

Mikesyracuse1

He never signed with nba team. So I'm not sure how this is much different than Dom playing for us?

BQ_90 said:

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He never signed with nba team. So I'm not sure how this is much different than Dom playing for us?

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It isn't.

Optics are bad to pick up these guys midseason. This guy is coming in to play, so others are going to sit which sucks for a kid that's been with the program since the offseason.

That's not new either though. Somewhat rare, but there have been midseason enrollees that immediately played before. Vescovi was probably the most high profile one recently.

But I don't know what people want. Until there's some kind of collectively bargained deal the NCAA is going to get killed in court in every case so why bother ruling anyone ineligible? And coaches get fired if they don't win, so they're all going to turn over every rock to find players until there's enforceable rules in place.

I don't have an issue with it in the current landscape. Guys who happened to be a good enough prospect to be in the NBA draft shouldn't be harmed more than guys who have actually played professional ball internationally.

I know it isn't new, but I do not like mid-season enrollees.

Here's Izzo's thoughts on it. He had a similar reaction to the overseas pros getting enrolled and playing in college.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6922089/2025/12/27/tom-izzo-james-nnaji-shame-on-ncaa-coaches/

Mikesyracuse1

I like Izzo. The amount of hate his comments received on X presumably from Baylor fans prove to me that fans always support something that favors them in the moment. Zero principle. Of course, maybe coaches are the same? (see Saban).

BQ_90 said:

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He never signed with nba team. So I'm not sure how this is much different than Dom playing for us?

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What is the story with this? He was a (late) first round pick. Why didn't he sign??

bobinator said:

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coaches get fired if they don't win, so they're all going to turn over every rock to find players until there's enforceable rules in place.

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this is understandable. How scott drew is still allowed to be the one pioneering new shady recruiting tactics is not.

is he a ninja

CactusThomas said:

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BQ_90 said:

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He never signed with nba team. So I'm not sure how this is much different than Dom playing for us?

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What is the story with this? He was a (late) first round pick. Why didn't he sign??

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He was a 2nd round pick (31 overall). Quote from an article about where he's been:

Quote:

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Nnaji was drafted 31st overall in 2023 by the Detroit Pistons, who then traded his draft rights to the Charlotte Hornets. One year later, he was traded to the New York Knicks. Although he never played in a G League or NBA game, he did play in two separate NBA Summer Leagues. Nnaji appeared in six Summer League games with the Hornets in 2024, averaging 17.5 minutes, 3.8 points, four rebounds, and 0.5 assists per contest. In his summer league stint with the Knicks, he played only 12.9 minutes and averaged 3.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game.

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At this point, why would it even matter if he had played in the NBA?

Seven Costanza said:

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At this point, why would it even matter if he had played in the NBA?

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Cause we have rules against that

I think the rules are gone now. Hiring a guy that played in the NBA vs. a guy that is playing professionally in Europe. How is that different?

There's a guy who has played in 8 NBA games who might be testing the waters soon:

https://www.si.com/college/kentucky/recruiting/kentucky-in-mix-for-current-nba-player-on-two-way-contract-trentyn-flowers

I think it's pretty clear at this point that anyone is going to be eligible as long as they haven't played college ball before

I agree.

Although I wouldn't be shocked to see that caveat eliminated as well.

Nah, the NCAA at least has some legal standing there.

I think you missed my sarcasm

I did. I'm sorry.

NCAA Comments on NBA players eligibility.

NCAA president Charlie Baker addresses basketball eligibility, via the @NCAA. pic.twitter.com/iJMIVmdXfc

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 30, 2025

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/47456708/ncaa-charlie-baker-players-nba-contracts-not-eligible

In the NCAA's era of free player movement and NIL payments, the lines that separate college from professional sports have never been blurrier.

But even in this brave new world of college sports, the latest twist comes as a shock. The best programs in the country are now getting their players from a highly unlikely source: the NBA.

On Christmas Eve, Baylor signed a 7-foot center named James Nnaji in an unusual midseason addition. What made Nnaji's arrival truly unprecedented, however, was his professional C.V.

Nnaji, who grew up in Nigeria, played for Barcelona in Europe's professional EuroLeague. And in 2023, he was drafted by the NBA's Detroit Pistons, who selected the promising big man with the first pick in the second round.
Since being drafted, Nnaji, now 21, has appeared in a Summer League game opposite NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama. He's been part of a trade that brought All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. And just six months ago, Nnaji did another stint in the NBA's Summer League, hoping to earn a spot in the Knicks' rotation.

But it was a college team that liked what they saw most. And this week, the Bears pulled him back from the pros to play against teenagers in the Big 12. The NCAA confirmed that Nnaji has been declared eligible.
"James is a really talented young player with a ton of potential," Baylor coach Scott Drew said on Wednesday, "and we're excited to welcome him to the Baylor Family."

The 7-Footer Who Ditched the NBA to Go to College - WSJ

His name is Ninja?

Nninja

Nnaji…