The world of American college basketball has been plunged into turmoil following a landmark and controversial decision by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The governing body has granted eligibility to a former NBA draft pick, a move that has ignited fierce debate and led prominent coaches to warn the sport is descending into "chaos".
The Decision That Broke The Mold
At the centre of the storm is James Nnaji, a 21-year-old Nigerian professional. In a dramatic break with precedent, the NCAA has granted him four years of eligibility, clearing him to play for Baylor University for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. This is highly unusual because Nnaji was selected 31st overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Historically, the rules were clear: once a player entered the NBA draft and was selected, their college career was over. Players had until mid-June to withdraw their name if they wished to retain their amateur status. Nnaji, however, never signed an NBA contract and has not played in the league or its G-League affiliate, though he has been a professional since 2019 and participated in NBA Summer League games.
A Torrent of Criticism from Coaching Giants
The decision has provoked a furious backlash from some of the sport's most respected figures. Hall-of-Fame coach John Calipari of Arkansas issued a blistering statement, insisting the NCAA is ignoring its own regulations. "The rules be the rules. If you put your name in the draft, I don't care if you're from Russia, you can't play college basketball!" he declared, warning the association could face legal challenges.
Michigan State's legendary coach Tom Izzo was equally scathing, telling USA Today, "I thought I'd seen the worst — then Christmas came... if that's what we're going to, shame on the NCAA." He criticised the committees making these decisions for allowing something he views as "ridiculous."
Other top coaches expressed their dismay and confusion. Purdue's Matt Painter stated, "We've got a governing body right now that they don't know whether they're on foot or horseback," calling for clear rules. Gonzaga's Mark Few summed up the sentiment by saying, "It's wild out there right now... A lack of leadership has really shown."
NCAA's Cryptic Response and an Uncertain Future
Amid the uproar, the NCAA released a cryptic statement that did little to quell concerns. It acknowledged that schools are now "recruiting and seeking eligibility for more individuals with more international, semi-pro and professional experience than ever before." The association admitted that more rules likely need updating following recent legal injunctions, but this has created a vacuum.
The statement highlighted a core tension: while member schools push boundaries in recruitment, the erosion of old rules is "wreaking havoc on the system and leading to fewer opportunities for high school students." Consequently, the NCAA is now asking the US Congress to intervene and provide a legislative framework, a move Coach Few sarcastically noted given Congress's own challenges.
This case sets a potentially transformative precedent. The door is now open for other drafted professionals who didn't sign contracts to seek college eligibility, fundamentally altering the traditional pipeline from amateur sport to the professional ranks. The future of college basketball recruiting and competition now hangs in the balance, awaiting definitive rules from a governing body that coaches accuse of having lost its way.
