The college basketball landscape is shifting fast-and not just around the edges. We’re talking seismic changes that are blurring the lines between pro and amateur, past and present.
The latest example? Baylor is about to add a big man with serious professional credentials.
James Nnaji, once the No. 31 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, has played in the NBA Summer League and logged multiple seasons with Barcelona in the EuroLeague. That’s not your typical college transfer.
That’s a player who’s already tasted the highest levels of international basketball-and now he’s heading to Waco.
Naturally, this kind of move is turning heads. And it’s not just fans reacting. Former players are chiming in too, wondering if the evolving eligibility rules might open the door for their own surprise returns.
One of those voices? Joe Girard III.
The former Syracuse and Clemson guard took to X (formerly Twitter) with a tongue-in-cheek reaction to the Nnaji news:
😳😳. During Covid We Had A Few Games Cancelled Because Of Contract Tracing, Does That Mean I Can Fight For A Semester Of Eligibility?!!?!?! 👀😂
That’s vintage JG3-playful, sharp, and always tuned into the moment. But beneath the emoji-laced post is a real question that’s becoming more relevant by the day: Where exactly is the line now when it comes to NCAA eligibility?
Girard isn’t just any former player tossing out a hypothetical. He’s a name that still resonates, especially in upstate New York.
A legend at Glens Falls High School, Girard left as the all-time leading scorer in New York state history. At Syracuse, he was a steady presence-handling the ball, hitting big shots, and playing with the kind of confidence that made him a fan favorite in the Dome.
Then came his final season at Clemson, where he brought that same edge to a different shade of orange.
And now, with players like Nnaji making their way from the pros back into the college game, you can’t blame Girard-or any former player-for wondering if there might be a loophole, a clause, or a Covid-era technicality that could give them one more run.
Would Syracuse fans welcome him back? No doubt.
But beyond the nostalgia, Girard’s post taps into a broader conversation happening across college basketball. With the NCAA’s eligibility rules evolving, and with NIL and international experience now part of the mix, the door to college hoops is more open-and more complicated-than ever before.
One thing’s for sure: this new era is going to keep us all on our toes.