From NBA Draft to NCAA Hardwood: James Nnaji, Trentyn Flowers, and the New Era of College Basketball Eligibility
College basketball just got a jolt of December drama that feels more like March Madness.
On Wednesday, former Detroit Pistons second-round pick James Nnaji enrolled at Baylor and was declared immediately eligible to play. Yes, you read that right - a player drafted into the NBA is now suiting up for a college program. And just days later, news broke that Trentyn Flowers, a two-way player with the Chicago Bulls who has already logged minutes in the NBA, is drawing interest from a dozen college programs, including Indiana.
This isn’t just a quirky one-off. It’s a sign that the NCAA’s eligibility rulebook is bending - or maybe breaking - under the weight of a new era in college athletics, where NIL deals, legal ambiguity, and shifting professional pathways are redrawing the lines between amateur and pro.
Nnaji’s Unconventional Path
Let’s start with Nnaji. The 21-year-old big man was the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft but never signed an NBA contract.
Instead, he continued playing professionally in Europe - a path that’s not uncommon for international prospects. Now, he’s in Waco, eligible to play for Baylor, and granted not just a one-year waiver, but four full years of college eligibility.
That’s not a clerical error. It’s the result of an NCAA committee’s interpretation - not a formal rule - that opened the door for Nnaji’s return to the amateur ranks. The move raises serious questions about consistency, transparency, and what eligibility even means in 2025.
Flowers on the Radar
Then came the Flowers news. The 6-foot-8 wing bypassed college in 2023, initially committing to Louisville before opting to turn pro.
He’s since played in eight NBA games over two seasons and is currently on a two-way contract with the Bulls. And now, according to recruiting insider Joe Tipton, Flowers is being courted by a long list of schools - though that list was quickly trimmed when several programs, including Florida, Michigan, Clemson, Indiana, and Texas Tech, clarified they weren’t involved.
Still, the mere fact that a current NBA player is even in the conversation for a return to college basketball underscores how murky the eligibility waters have become.
So... Who’s Eligible Now?
Here’s where things get even more interesting. The NCAA technically has a rule that says professional-to-college transitions must happen within five years of high school graduation. That would rule out someone like Trayce Jackson-Davis, who’s beyond that window and can’t use his remaining eligibility - assuming that rule still holds weight.
But for players like Flowers, who are still within that five-year range, the door might be open. And if Nnaji can play, why not others?
Kel’el Ware and Jalen Hood-Schifino both still have eligibility left and fall within that same window. The question now becomes less about who can return to college hoops and more about who wants to.
A Changing Landscape
From a philosophical standpoint, it’s hard to argue with the logic. In what other area of life are professionals barred from returning to college? And in a world where NIL money has turned college sports into a legitimate revenue stream - in some cases more lucrative than the G League or overseas contracts - the idea of “amateurism” feels increasingly outdated.
If college basketball is now a job, why shouldn’t players be allowed to job-hop like anyone else? The NCAA’s reluctance to lay down firm rules - likely out of fear of losing yet another legal battle - has created a Wild West environment. And until someone steps in to define the boundaries, this kind of chaos might just be the new normal.
What Comes Next?
Right now, there are more questions than answers. Could Congress step in and provide legal protection for the NCAA? Could the NBA and NCAA work together to establish a clearer pipeline or eligibility framework?
Maybe. But in the meantime, we’re in uncharted territory.
And for college basketball fans, coaches, and players, that means staying on their toes. Because in this new era, the line between pro and college isn’t just blurry - it might not exist at all.
One thing’s for sure: the transfer portal isn’t the only thing shaking up rosters anymore. And as we head into 2026, don’t be surprised if more names with pro experience start popping up on college campuses.
This is more than a loophole - it’s a shift. And it’s only just begun.