James Nnaji Heads to Baylor: A New Chapter in a Rapidly Evolving College Hoops Landscape
In a move that perfectly encapsulates the ever-shifting world of college basketball, 7-foot center James Nnaji - the No. 31 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft - is headed back to school. On Christmas Eve, it was reported that Nnaji will join Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears for the second half of the season and, more surprisingly, has been granted four full years of NCAA eligibility.
Yes, you read that right. A former NBA draft pick is now a college freshman - with four years to play.
It’s a headline that would’ve sounded impossible just a few years ago, but in today’s NIL-driven, portal-fueled college hoops environment, it’s just another day in the new normal.
From NBA Draft to Waco
Let’s be clear about Nnaji’s path. Drafted 31st overall in 2023 by the Charlotte Hornets and later traded to the New York Knicks, Nnaji never inked an NBA contract.
Instead, he chose to continue developing overseas. That detail - no NBA contract, no G League games - is what opened the door for his return to the college game.
Now, he’s Baylor-bound, and eligible to play immediately.
For Scott Drew and the Bears, this is a massive midseason addition. Nnaji brings elite size, pro-level physicality, and international experience to a Baylor team that’s already known for its defensive toughness and frontcourt depth. It’s rare to get a player with this kind of upside in December - let alone one who’s already been evaluated at the NBA level.
The NCAA’s Eligibility Era: Rules Are Being Rewritten in Real Time
This situation underscores just how fluid the NCAA’s eligibility rules have become. The name, image, and likeness (NIL) era has already blurred the lines between amateur and professional. Now, we’re seeing those lines all but erased.
The key here is precedent. Since Nnaji never signed a pro contract in the U.S., the NCAA has deemed him eligible.
And not just eligible to play - eligible for four years. That opens a fascinating (and somewhat chaotic) door for other international prospects or former U.S. high school stars who went pro overseas but never signed NBA or G League deals.
It’s a shift that has coaches, players, and fans alike trying to recalibrate what “college basketball” even means anymore.
Former Players Weigh In - With a Wink
The news didn’t just send shockwaves through coaching staffs and compliance offices. It also sparked some light-hearted trolling from former college stars.
After Nnaji’s eligibility was announced, a fan account jokingly asked former Duke guard DJ Steward if he wanted to come back to Durham for a couple of years. Steward, who played one season at Duke before signing pro contracts, quickly replied: “Why not !!”
Now, to be clear - Steward wouldn’t be eligible to return, having already signed NBA deals. But the joke landed because, frankly, nothing seems off-limits anymore.
The idea of a former draft pick suiting up in the NCAA used to be absurd. Now, it’s happening.
What This Means for the Future of the Game
Nnaji’s return is more than just a one-off headline. It’s a signal that the NCAA’s traditional framework is being tested like never before.
The transfer portal has already turned roster construction into a year-round process. NIL has given players real earning power. And now, the eligibility rulebook is evolving in real time - often with no clear precedent.
For programs like Baylor, this is a chance to add elite talent in unconventional ways. For fans, it’s a new era of constant change.
And for the NCAA? Well, it’s a reminder that the old definitions of “amateurism” are fading fast.
This isn’t the college basketball of even five years ago. It’s a hybrid world where pro-caliber players can return to campus, where eligibility windows stretch wider than ever, and where the sport’s next evolution is likely already underway.
James Nnaji’s arrival in Waco is a fascinating development on its own. But it also might be a sign of things to come - a future where the NCAA continues to adapt, bend, and occasionally break its own rules to keep up with the modern game.