Jay Bilas believes school basketball's eligibility drawback really 'not that huge of a deal'

[ad_1] The NCAA has an eligibility drawback on its fingers, and it has turn into very obvious in school basketball.

Earlier this season, former NBA Draft decide James Nnaji signed with Baylor. Njaji was drafted by the Detroit Pistons however by no means performed within the NBA. He performed professionally in Europe, nevertheless it was dominated that he may play at Baylor as a result of he was inside 5 years of his highschool commencement, and he by no means signed an NBA contract.

Just a few weeks in the past, issues received much more wild.

Charles Bediako, a former Alabama hooper, determined to come back again to Alabama two years after going undrafted. He was granted eligibility quickly even if he had signed a two-way contract within the NBA and had even performed within the G League.

It form of appears like one thing has to present. Georgia head coach Mike White not too long ago joked that Anthony Edwards can be again within the lineup for the Bulldogs.

Famous school basketball analyst and speaking head Jay Bilas does not appear to suppose it is that huge of a deal, although. He does suppose the NCAA must provide you with some exhausting and quick eligibility guidelines, however finally, he believes the outcry — particularly from the coaches — is a bit self-righteous.

“One of many issues I discover actually fascinating about that is the response of coaches on this,” Bilas stated Wednesday on "The Paul Finebaum Present" (h/t On3). “The concept a few of that is shameful and all that. ‘Disgrace on the NCAA, disgrace on the coaches.’ Once I hear that, what I actually suppose is, look, in the event you don’t desire a participant like Charles Bediako, don’t recruit him. However what they’re actually saying is, we don’t wish to play in opposition to him. That’s what’s being stated right here is, they don’t wish to play in opposition to Charles Bediako. James Nnaji at Baylor, after all of the hullabaloo about him, he’s averaging 1.7 factors per sport. Charles Bediako — no disrespect. I imply, he’s a superb participant. However, what, he had 13 and 14 factors in two video games? We had three freshmen over the weekend rating over 40."

Jay Bilas believes school basketball's eligibility drawback is overblown Bilas is mainly saying that there are greater fish to fry. Positive, if White's joke about Edwards got here true and the three-time NBA All-Star determined he wished to come back again to play school hoops, we might be in huge bother. Or if LeBron James determined he wished to play for Ohio State as a result of he technically by no means performed school basketball. That is the place issues may actually go sideways.

Once more, Bilas believes there must be clearer guidelines in the case of eligibility. He is proper about that. In the end, although, it is his thought that the drama is a bit overblown.

If it will get folks to tune in to varsity basketball earlier than March, it might even be price it for the NCAA.

“We’re not speaking about an All-America-caliber right here. Once more, I don’t imply that to be disrespectful, however why are we getting in a twist over all these things when it’s actually, for my part, not that huge of a deal," Bilas stated. "I do agree that the NCAA needs to be higher in the best way they promulgate guidelines. Their guidelines ought to make higher sense than they make. However I’m unsure that to the extent these gamers and establishments are sort of being demonized over this, it’s nowhere close to as huge of a deal for my part as is being product of it.”