College basketball just got another plot twist-one that feels like it was pulled straight from a video game’s franchise mode.
Baylor has landed a midseason commitment from 7-foot center James Nnaji, the No. 31 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Yes, you read that right.
A drafted NBA player is now suiting up for a college program halfway through the season. The 21-year-old has been granted four years of NCAA eligibility and is expected to play for the Bears during the second half of the 2025-26 season.
Now, Nnaji never actually played in an NBA game, which is where the loophole comes into play. His draft rights are still held by the New York Knicks, who acquired them in the blockbuster deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to the Big Apple. So, essentially, the Knicks are loaning out a draft pick to a college program-at least for now.
It’s a move that raises more than a few eyebrows, and not just because it’s unprecedented. It’s another example of how the lines between college and pro basketball are getting blurrier by the day. What once seemed like separate worlds are now overlapping in ways we’ve never seen before.
What Does “Eligible” Even Mean Anymore?
Nnaji’s situation has already sparked speculation about what’s next. Could other players with NBA ties make their way back to the college ranks?
One name that briefly surfaced was Trentyn Flowers, a young wing who’s already logged eight NBA games. While reports of his potential return to college have cooled, his name serves as a case study in just how messy this could get. If players on two-way contracts-or even those with a cup of coffee in the league-start exploring college options, the NCAA could be looking at a whole new eligibility crisis.
And while it’s purely hypothetical, think about someone like Harrison Ingram. He’s unlikely to return to college, but if a program in need of a versatile wing came calling with the right NIL package, you can see where this could go. The fact that this kind of scenario is even being discussed shows how murky the waters have become.
NCAA Needs a Game Plan-Fast
With 2026 right around the corner, the NCAA has some serious soul-searching to do. Two major issues are front and center: eligibility and the transfer portal.
Let’s start with eligibility. Right now, the rules are vague at best and inconsistent at worst.
International players, in particular, have found themselves navigating a maze of red tape. Just ask UNC, who dealt with a frustrating eligibility saga involving Luka Bogavac earlier this season.
The simplest fix? If you declare for the NBA Draft and get selected-whether you sign or not-that’s it.
Your college eligibility ends. Clean, clear, and easy to enforce.
That would close the loophole that allowed Nnaji to land at Baylor midseason.
Now, if the NCAA and NBA want to get creative, they could work out a system where drafted players who don’t sign contracts can return to school. But that would require a deeper partnership between the two leagues, and there’s no indication that kind of cooperation is coming anytime soon.
Transfer Portal: One and Done?
Then there’s the transfer portal, which has become the Wild West of college sports. Players are jumping from school to school at an unprecedented rate. In some cases, we’re seeing athletes suit up for four different programs in four years.
Arkansas head coach John Calipari recently weighed in with a suggestion that makes a lot of sense: allow one free transfer, but if a player wants to move again, they have to sit out a year. That would restore some structure to a system that’s gotten out of hand.
The idea isn’t to punish players-it’s about protecting the integrity of the game and the academic side of college athletics. Realistically, it’s hard to believe that someone transferring multiple times is also staying on track to graduate. The current system has created a revolving door that benefits no one in the long run.
NIL Has Changed the Game-Now the NCAA Needs to Catch Up
At this point, college athletics has become its own version of professional sports. NIL deals are flowing, players are making real money, and the recruiting landscape has been reshaped entirely.
But with all that change comes a need for structure. Right now, the NCAA is operating in a gray area where rules are either unclear or inconsistently enforced. That’s not sustainable.
If the NCAA doesn’t take decisive action soon-on eligibility, transfers, and NIL-it risks losing control of the very system it’s supposed to govern. The James Nnaji situation is just the latest example of how far things have drifted.
The new year is a chance for a reset, but it’s going to take more than resolutions. It’s time for real reform. Because if the current chaos continues unchecked, we’re not just talking about a few odd cases here and there-we’re talking about a fundamental shift in what college sports even are.