NCAA Reaffirms Ineligibility for Players Who Previously Signed NBA Contracts
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NCAA president Charlie Baker said Tuesday, December 30, that athletes who have already signed any type of NBA agreement, including two-way deals, will not be permitted to compete in college basketball.
“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract,” Baker declared in a written statement released on social media. His remarks came after reports that several programs had approached players with NBA experience, notably former Mavericks two-way guard Jazian Gortman and current Bulls two-way forward Trentyn Flowers.
Exception for James Nnaji Explained
The announcement clarifies why Baylor freshman James Nnaji—the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft—was recently granted four full seasons of eligibility. Nnaji never signed an NBA deal, remaining overseas as a draft-and-stash prospect. Detroit selected him before trading his rights to Charlotte on draft night; the Hornets later shipped those rights to New York in last fall’s three-team blockbuster that sent Karl-Anthony Towns to Charlotte. The Knicks still hold Nnaji’s NBA rights while he begins his college career.
International and G League Precedents
In recent years, international professionals and G League alumni such as Thierry Darlan have been cleared to play in the NCAA under rules allowing reimbursement for “actual and necessary” expenses. Baker said the association is applying that bylaw “to ensure that prospective student-athletes with experience in American basketball leagues are not at a disadvantage compared to their international counterparts.”
Potential Legal Challenges
Baker acknowledged that nationwide court injunctions have recently disrupted longstanding NCAA regulations and vowed to work with Division I leaders “to protect college basketball from these misguided attempts to destroy this American institution.” Although Gortman has reportedly shown little interest in enrolling, and Flowers could also forgo college, a future player with NBA experience could test the policy in court.
The NCAA has prevailed in most eligibility-related lawsuits, but Baker conceded that outcomes are not guaranteed if another challenge arises.
Source: Hoops Rumors
