Rutgers coach trolls NCAA eligibility guidelines as NBA gamers look to varsity hoops

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The talk over NCAA eligibility for athletes whose background contains NBA expertise was reignited after James Nnaji joined the Baylor males’s basketball group.

Because the checklist of athletes who frolicked within the NBA’s G League or competed on the worldwide stage and are in search of to play school basketball within the U.S. grows, a number of distinguished school basketball coaches have spoken out in opposition to the development. Rutgers males’s basketball coach Steve Pikiell is amongst that group, however in his critique, he floated an outside-the-box concept.

"Whoever’s on the market, you attempt to pursue. It’s a bizarre world," Pikiell advised reporters when discussing coaches not ruling out the opportunity of midseason transfers.

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell reacts on the finish of the sport in opposition to the Oregon Geese at Matthew Knight Enviornment on Feb. 16, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. (Craig Strobeck/Imagn Photographs)

Pikiell’s feedback got here shortly after Rutgers defeated Delaware State on Monday. He continued his remarks by jokingly including that he wouldn’t thoughts having a 36-year-old with a household on the Rutgers roster.

"I would prefer to get a 36-year-old with 4 children and hungry for a job. I would prefer to get a kind of guys. We'll see if a kind of guys is out there. However yeah, you bought to pursue any lead that you've on anyone after which acquired to undergo all of the steps to attempt to make it occur. It is very complicated."

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Thierry Darlan and London Johnson each skipped the faculty basketball route, going on to the now-defunct NBA G League Ignite. Earlier this yr, each gamers acquired clearance for his or her respective NBA eligibility.

Elsewhere, Baylor confirmed that Nnaji signed with this system on Christmas Eve, roughly 2½ years after the Detroit Pistons chosen him within the second spherical of the NBA Draft. He has competed within the NBA Summer season League however has but to look in an NBA regular-season sport.

James Nnaji of Barcelona takes a shot in the course of the Turkish Airways EuroLeague Common Season Spherical 34 match between LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne and FC Barcelona at LDLC Enviornment on April 12, 2024 in Lyon, France. (Eurasia Sport Photographs/Getty Photographs)

However, Nnaji’s transfer from the EuroLeague to the NBA Draft to Baylor added to the outcry from school coaches and others.

Arkansas males’s basketball head coach John Calipari mentioned nobody needs to be permitted to play college basketball after being drafted into the professionals, no matter worldwide standing.

"Actual easy. The foundations be the principles, so when you put your identify within the [NBA Draft], I do not care when you're from Russia and also you keep within the draft, you may't play school basketball," Calipari mentioned Monday. "'Nicely, that is just for American children.' What? In case your identify is in that draft, and you bought drafted, you may't play as a result of that is our rule."

A NCAA Official Recreation Ball brand is seen on a basketball earlier than the NCAA Division II Nationwide Championship Basketball sport between the Minnesota State Mavericks and the Nova Southeastern Sharks on March 30, 2024, on the Ford Heart in Evansville, Indiana. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)

Longtime Michigan State males’s basketball coach Tom Izzo additionally weighed in, jokingly hinting he may inquire with Spartans legends Ervin "Magic" Johnson and others about returning to the faculty hardwood.

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"Why not? I imply, if that is what we will, disgrace on the NCAA," Izzo mentioned. "Disgrace on the coaches, too. However disgrace on the NCAA, as a result of coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I assume. However the NCAA is the one. These individuals on these committees which can be making these selections to permit one thing so ridiculous and never consider the child."

Gonzaga coach Mark Few appeared to take purpose on the NCAA's management construction, saying, "It is wild on the market proper now. We actually haven't any organizational or any actual guidelines proper now. I feel guys are simply attempting to do no matter they'll. Till there is a rule that claims you may't do it, it is arduous accountable anyone for doing what they're doing. Our lack of management has actually proven."