By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
In an unprecedented decision, the NCAA permitted the 21-year-old James Nnaji to enroll at Baylor, as Jonathan Givony has reported.
This is one more proof that the NCAA at this point should not be considered an amateur competition and should be regulated by FIBA, an intention already announced by the international basketball federation.
Nnaji is already the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA draft and was under contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2025, having also played for Girona in Spain and Merkezefendi in Turkey.
Of course, the NIL deals explain why a professional player who has competed in the most recent summer league with the Knicks, who got his NBA rights via the trade that brought Karl Anthony Towns to New York, chose this path, and it’s only beneficial for the players to have these kinds of options.
On the other hand, however, it’s more than obvious that the NCAA should be considered another league and not a collegiate competition.