Baylor Secures NBA Draft Pick James Nnaji for Immediate Collegiate Play
Waco, Wednesday, 24 December 2025.
In a landmark ruling, 2023 NBA draft pick James Nnaji joins Baylor with immediate eligibility, securing four years of college play despite his professional history in Europe.
Blurring the Lines Between Pro and Amateur
In a development that fundamentally challenges traditional notions of collegiate amateurism, James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has officially committed to the Baylor University men’s basketball program [1][2]. Despite being selected by the Detroit Pistons two years ago and boasting a professional resume in Europe, the 21-year-old Nigerian center has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA to compete in the second half of the 2025-26 season [1][6]. Perhaps most surprisingly, Nnaji has been awarded four full years of college eligibility, a decision stemming from the fact that he never officially signed a contract with an NBA franchise [5][6]. This ruling underscores the rapidly evolving regulatory environment of college athletics, where the distinction between professional and student-athlete continues to erode [2].
A Professional Resume in a Collegiate Jersey
Nnaji’s path to Waco is unprecedented in the modern era. Represented by agents Gerard Raventos and Deirunas Visockas of Gersh Sports, Nnaji has been on the NBA radar for years without ever stepping onto a regular-season NBA court [4]. His draft rights have been a commodity in the league’s transaction market; originally selected by Detroit, his rights were traded to the Charlotte Hornets, and subsequently moved to the New York Knicks in 2024 as part of the three-team trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns [2][6]. While he suited up for Summer League rosters with both the Hornets and the Knicks—most recently playing for New York’s Summer League team in 2025—he remained an unsigned free agent, preserving his collegiate status under the NCAA’s loosening restrictions [2][4].
Strategic Reinforcement for a Depleted Roster
The timing of Nnaji’s enrollment is critical for a Baylor squad currently sitting at 9-2 but unranked and plagued by frontcourt attrition [4]. The Bears have been forced to rely heavily on senior Caden Powell, as the roster has been decimated by injuries: High Point transfer Juslin Bodo Bodo is expected to redshirt due to an offseason injury, while freshmen Maikcol Perez (ACL) and Mayo Soyoye (redshirt) are out for the year [2]. Standing 7 feet tall with a massive 7-foot-7 wingspan, Nnaji offers an immediate physical presence to a rotation that was dangerously thin [2][4]. He is expected to be available as early as the final non-conference game on December 29 or at the onset of the second semester in January, providing reinforcement just as the Bears prepare to face Big 12 powerhouses like No. 3 Iowa State, No. 8 Houston, and No. 17 Kansas [2][4].