James Nnaji, an NBA draft decide, commits to Baylor basketball program

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It’s frequent for gamers to announce they're heading to the professionals from faculty — not the opposite manner round.

However a latest report in basketball has followers baffled after Nigerian middle James Nnaji, the thirty first total decide of the 2023 NBA Draft , has dedicated to play at Baylor.

The 7-foot middle will be capable of play the second half of the Bears’ season, in response to On3 Sports , and shall be granted 4 years of NCAA eligibility.

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James Nnaji of FC Barcelona in motion earlier than a Turkish Airways EuroLeague Playoffs match in opposition to Olympiacos Piraeus at Palau Blaugrana April 24, 2024, in Barcelona, Spain. (Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball)

How is that this doable for somebody who not solely declared for the NBA Draft however was taken within the first spherical in 2023?

Nicely, Nnaji by no means signed an NBA contract. When he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons, Nnaji had his rights moved to the Charlotte Hornets . Then, within the three-team deal for Karl-Anthony Cities, his rights moved to the New York Knicks.

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Nnaji by no means appeared in a regular-season NBA recreation and determined to go abroad to proceed his professional profession. He performed for FC Barcelona in Liga ACB in Spain. They mutually parted methods in August.

Then, Nnaji returned to the Knicks to play within the Summer season League in Las Vegas, the place he averaged 3.2 factors and three.6 rebounds over 5 video games.

James Nnaji poses throughout the 2023-2024 Turkish Airways EuroLeague Media Day FC Barcelona Sept. 20, 2023, in Sant Joan Despi, Spain. (Pau Barrena/Euroleague Basketball)

With the Bears skinny within the entrance courtroom — Maikcol Perez and Justin Bodo Bodo are each coping with accidents — Nnaji will are available and will play important minutes for Scott Drew’s crew at Baylor.

Nnaji was simply 18 years previous when he was drafted, and groups favored his measurables with the hopes of creating his expertise within the league.

James Nnaji of Barcelona takes a shot throughout the Turkish Airways EuroLeague regular-season spherical 34 match in opposition to LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne at LDLC Enviornment on April 12, 2024, in Lyon, France. (Eurasia Sport Photos/Getty Photos)

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"Nnaji’s measurables by way of his measurement and size are spectacular, and he’s an enormous leaper who can end above the rim, although he does current as one thing of a venture for the Hornets," CBS Sports activities’ Kyle Boone wrote about Nnaji when he was taken in 2023.