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NCAA Clarifies Eligibility: No College Play for Athletes Who Signed NBA Contracts

The move follows Baylor’s midseason enrollment of 2023 draftee James Nnaji, prompting calls from top coaches for firm eligibility standards.

Overview

  • President Charlie Baker said the NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any player who has signed an NBA contract, including two-way deals.
  • James Nnaji was cleared to play at Baylor because he never signed an NBA contract or appeared in an NBA or G League regular-season game, according to compliance interpretations.
  • High-profile coaches including John Calipari, Tom Izzo, Dan Hurley and Mark Few criticized recent case-by-case decisions and urged clearer rules.
  • Calipari outlined proposals that would bar drafted players from returning to college, prevent midseason additions from playing that season, and limit multiple transfers.
  • The Nnaji decision follows earlier clearances for former G League or international pros such as Thierry Darlan, London Johnson and Abdullah Ahmed, developments unfolding under legal pressures reshaping NCAA authority.