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Jeff Borzello
NCAA president Charlie Baker on Tuesday clarified his organization’s position on college eligibility for players with NBA experience.
The official stance came in view of boiler Signing former NBA draft pick James Nanaji And amid reports that current NBA players trentine flower College is gaining eligibility.
“The NCAA has not and will not extend eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who sign an NBA contract (including a two-way contract),” Baker said in a statement. “As schools are increasingly recruiting individuals with international league experience, the NCAA is exercising discretion in enforcing the genuine and necessary expenditures clause to ensure that potential student-athletes with experience in American basketball leagues are not at a disadvantage compared to their international counterparts. The rules have long allowed schools to enroll and play mid-year individuals with no prior collegiate experience.
“Although the NCAA has won the majority of eligibility-related lawsuits, recent decisions by the NCAA to enforce rules that have been on the books for decades on a nationwide basis – without a hearing – are wildly destabilizing. I will work with DI leaders in the coming weeks to protect college basketball from these misguided efforts to destroy this American institution.”
On Christmas Eve, Baylor announced the signing of Nnaji, the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. However Nnaji played in the NBA Summer League and was included in the trade that sent him in October 2024. carl-anthony town till new York KnicksHe has never played an NBA game and has spent the past five years in the FC Barcelona organization as part of the EuroLeague.
Like many other international players who have never attended college and never played an NBA game, Nnaji was cleared by the NCAA last week. He could make his debut for the Bears as early as this weekend.
Nnaji’s status is the latest in a growing trend of professional basketball players fighting to play college basketball, following dozens of players with experience in European pro leagues and several former G League players.
This has sparked outrage from a long list of prominent college basketball coaches.
“Simple really. Rules are rules, so if you put your name in [NBA draft]”I don’t care if you’re from Russia and stay in the draft, you can’t play college basketball,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said. Commenting extensively on the state of college basketball, he said Monday night. “‘Well, it’s only for American kids.’ what? If your name is in that draft and you get drafted, you can’t play because that’s our rule.”
gonzaga Coach Mark Few told reporters on Sunday: “It’s a very weird situation out there right now. We don’t have any organizational or any real rules right now. I think guys are just trying to do what they can. Unless there’s a rule saying you can’t do that, it’s hard to blame anybody for what they’re doing. Our lack of leadership really shows.”
Like previous amateurism and eligibility rules, the NCAA’s official stance could be tested in court.
Flowers, a former top-50 high school recruit who once committed to Louisville before signing a professional contract in Australia, is on a two-way contract. Chicago Bulls and their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. Sources told ESPN that he appeared in two NBA games for Chicago earlier this month, but is currently exploring the possibility of playing college basketball.
