WACO, Texas, December 29, 2025 – In a move that’s sending ripples through college basketball, Baylor University announced Christmas Eve that 7-foot center James Nnaji, selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, will immediately join the Bears’ roster. The unexpected addition raises significant questions about the future of player eligibility and roster construction in the NCAA.
The mid-season arrival of a player with immediate eligibility is rare, but the clearance of a player previously drafted into the NBA is unprecedented. How did Baylor navigate the NCAA’s rules to make this happen, and will this open the floodgates for similar moves?
Coaches React to Baylor’s Bold Move
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Reactions from around the college basketball landscape have been mixed, ranging from pragmatic acceptance to outright concern. One Big East coach told sources he saw no issue with Baylor’s actions, framing it as a strategic move to bolster the team’s chances. A coach from the Big Ten echoed this sentiment, stating that Baylor simply operated within the existing rules.
“They were creative enough to find a situation that fit into a narrow interpretation like all of us try to,” the Big Ten coach said.
However, not everyone is convinced. A high-major head coach expressed reservations, arguing that a player drafted into the NBA should forfeit their college eligibility. “If the NCAA clears a kid, then it clears a kid,” the coach conceded, “but for us, if you ask me, do I think that a player should be able to be added after being drafted? No. It’s not the process we’re all into. A kid puts his name into the draft and gets drafted, his college life should be over.”
One Big 12 coach questioned the ethics of exploiting loopholes, stating, “[It’s] up to Baylor to decide if exploiting a rule is within the culture of their program. Just because something is currently permissible doesn’t make it best for the game.”
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo voiced similar concerns, saying, “I mean, if that’s what we’re going to do, shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too. But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I guess.” Izzo added that he planned to discuss the situation directly with Baylor coach Scott Drew.
A major conference general manager acknowledged Baylor’s strategic intent, stating that the program simply identified an opportunity to improve its roster. “Motherf****** will go anywhere to find someone that can help them win a basketball game right now,” the GM said. “I don’t think it’s something we will do because these guys are pros. How will they handle how a college coach coaches? That’s been my thought process.”
The GM further explained the challenges of integrating professional players into a college environment, noting, “Pros don’t worry about winning like you expect to win in college. You’ve got to really dig into the character traits and then pressure down these traits into these grown men coming back who haven’t played college basketball. It’s a different game than the NBA and a different game than the G League. This s*** is about winning; the NBA is about getting paid.”
There’s a growing sentiment that the NCAA may need to clarify its rules to prevent similar situations in the future. “A drafted player should forfeit eligibility,” one Big Ten coach stated. “And this also calls into question the draft withdrawal date and if it means anything.”
Another Big 12 coach agreed, advocating for closing the loophole that allowed Nnaji’s eligibility. However, a college GM downplayed the potential impact, suggesting the pool of eligible players is limited. “I don’t [think it will have a big impact on roster construction,” the GM said. “I don’t think the player pool is going to be large enough. [And] I think the NCAA or the NBA is going to clip this real quick. Whoever is going to do it, better do it now, because this won’t be around too much longer.”
“I’m interested to see how it plays out with how good he really is, how much he impacts and how much they win,” the GM added, acknowledging the scrutiny Baylor will face throughout the season.
How Baylor Secured Nnaji’s Eligibility
The opportunity arose when Baylor learned that transfer big man Juslin Bodo Bodo would likely miss the season due to a summer injury. Baylor general manager Jason Smith then explored potential mid-year additions, and Nnaji, through his representatives, expressed interest in playing college basketball. Smith worked with Nnaji’s representatives and the NCAA to secure his clearance.
The NCAA approved Nnaji’s eligibility because he is an international player within the five-year window following his high school graduation, despite being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2023. His draft rights were later traded to the Hornets and then to the New York Knicks as part of a deal for Karl-Anthony Towns.
Nnaji’s Remaining Eligibility
Under NCAA rules, Nnaji qualifies as an incoming freshman with no prior full-time college attendance, granting him four years of eligibility. Several other former professional players, including Thierry Darlan (Santa Clara) and London Johnson (Louisville), have also been granted eligibility, though with varying durations.
The Impact of the House v. NCAA Ruling
Schools participating in the House injunction, which allows athletes to share in revenue, are required to have an available scholarship spot to add a mid-season player. This legislation also increased the number of scholarships available to men’s basketball teams from 13 to 15, providing Baylor with the necessary roster space.
Nnaji’s Background
Nnaji moved to Barcelona in 2020 to join FC Barcelona’s basketball team, quickly developing into a promising international prospect. He also had loan stints with Girona in the Spanish Liga ACB and Merkezefdeni in Turkey. He was considered a potential first-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft but was selected 31st overall by the Hornets.
Despite being drafted, Nnaji did not play in the NBA or G League, only participating in the NBA Summer League before returning overseas.
Similar situations have emerged recently, including reports – later retracted – of former undrafted guard Trentyn Flowers drawing interest from multiple college teams. Other players, like Johnson and Darlan, have successfully transitioned from professional careers to college eligibility, adding another layer of complexity to the evolving landscape of college athletics.
