College basketball is entering a new era - and not everyone’s sure it’s for the better.
At the heart of the issue is eligibility. More specifically, the increasingly blurry line between who's considered a true college athlete and who’s already crossed into the professional ranks.
What used to be a rare exception - a player with pro experience returning to the college game - is quickly becoming something more common. And that shift is starting to shake the foundation of what college basketball has traditionally been about.
Let’s break this down. The NCAA’s current eligibility rules state that student-athletes must have completed high school (or its equivalent), not signed an NBA or two-way contract, and must compete within five years of their high school graduation.
That’s the framework. But in practice?
We're seeing more and more cracks in that foundation.
This season alone, five players with professional experience have been granted eligibility to play college ball. That’s not a small number - and it's not a coincidence.
Take London Johnson at Louisville and Abdullah Ahmed at BYU. Both have played in the G League - the NBA’s developmental league - and yet both were granted multiple years of NCAA eligibility.
Johnson received two years; Ahmed got three. Technically, neither signed an NBA or two-way contract, which keeps them within the letter of the rule.
But the spirit of the rule? That’s where things get murky.
Then there’s James Nnaji at Baylor. He was drafted 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and spent five years playing overseas in Spain and Turkey - legitimate professional leagues.
Yet somehow, he’s been granted four years of NCAA eligibility. That’s not just a gray area - that’s a full-on eligibility enigma.
Charles Bediako is another name that’s raising eyebrows. After two seasons at Alabama, he signed a two-way contract, played in the G League, and now he’s back with the Crimson Tide - even though his eligibility is still being reviewed in court.
He’s suiting up and playing while awaiting a ruling. That’s not just unusual - it’s unprecedented.
And then there’s Amari Bailey. After one season at UCLA, he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets and played 10 NBA games.
Now? He’s trying to return to the Bruins.
If that happens, it could be a watershed moment for college basketball - a clear signal that the door between pro ball and college hoops is wide open, and swinging in both directions.
Here’s why this matters: every college roster spot is a limited and valuable resource. When former pros take those spots, it means fewer opportunities for high school players - the traditional pipeline for college programs.
These returning players are all 21 years old or older, bringing with them experience and physical maturity that most incoming freshmen simply don’t have. That’s a tough matchup for a kid just out of high school trying to earn minutes and develop his game.
And coaches are already adjusting. Just ask Rick Pitino, the veteran head coach at St.
John’s. In a recent interview, he admitted that his staff has largely shifted away from recruiting high school players, instead targeting older, more experienced athletes.
“We’ve gone after older players,” Pitino said. “Although we have taken one or two to develop.”
That’s not just a coaching preference - it’s a trend. And it’s one that’s being fueled by the transfer portal, NIL opportunities, and now, the growing number of former pros returning to the NCAA ranks.
Not all of these cases are the same. Johnson and Ahmed never signed NBA deals, and their international status adds a layer of complexity.
But players like Nnaji, Bediako, and Bailey? They’ve already taken the leap into professional basketball.
Nnaji was a near first-round pick. Bediako left college to chase an NBA dream.
Bailey played in the NBA. Their returns highlight just how inconsistent and unclear the NCAA’s eligibility standards have become.
The bigger concern? This trend threatens to widen the gap between the haves and have-nots in college basketball.
Power conference programs - the ones with the resources, the exposure, and the infrastructure - are in the best position to land these experienced players. Mid-majors and smaller schools?
They’re left trying to compete with less talent and fewer tools.
If the NCAA doesn’t step in to clarify its rules, this loophole is only going to grow. And if that happens, college basketball could evolve into something that looks a lot more like a minor league system for the NBA than a developmental ground for young athletes.
There’s no easy answer here. Players should absolutely have the freedom to explore professional opportunities - whether that’s overseas or in the G League.
But once that step is taken, there needs to be a clear line. Otherwise, the identity of college basketball - as a place to grow, to learn, to develop - starts to fade.
And if that identity disappears, so does the heart of what makes the college game so special.