Rutgers basketball coach mocks NCAA's eligibility rules as debate reignites over NBA-experienced players

The statement complete NCAA eligibility for athletes whose inheritance includes NBA acquisition was reignited aft James Nnaji joined nan Baylor men’s hoops team.

As nan database of athletes who spent clip successful nan NBA’s G League aliases competed astatine nan world level and are seeking to play assemblage hoops successful nan U.S. grows, respective salient assemblage hoops coaches person spoken out against nan trend. Rutgers men’s hoops coach Steve Pikiell is among that group, but successful his critique, he floated an outside-the-box theory.

"Whoever’s retired there, you effort to pursue. It’s a weird world," Pikiell told reporters erstwhile discussing coaches not ruling retired nan anticipation of midseason transfers.

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Rutgers Scarlet Knights caput coach Steve Pikiell reacts astatine nan extremity of nan crippled against nan Oregon Ducks astatine Matthew Knight Arena connected Feb. 16, 2025 successful Eugene, Oregon. (Craig Strobeck/Imagn Images)

Pikiell’s comments came soon aft Rutgers defeated Delaware State connected Monday. He continued his remarks by jokingly adding that he wouldn’t mind having a 36-year-old pinch a family connected nan Rutgers roster.

"I'd for illustration to get a 36-year-old pinch 4 kids and quiet for a job. I'd for illustration to get 1 of those guys. We'll spot if 1 of those guys is available. But yeah, you sewage to prosecute immoderate lead that you person connected anybody and past sewage to spell done each nan steps to effort to make it happen. It's very complex."

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Thierry Darlan and London Johnson some skipped nan assemblage hoops route, going straight to nan now-defunct NBA G League Ignite. Earlier this year, some players received clearance for their respective NBA eligibility.

Elsewhere, Baylor confirmed that Nnaji signed pinch nan programme connected Christmas Eve, astir 2½ years aft nan Detroit Pistons selected him successful nan 2nd information of nan NBA Draft. He has competed successful nan NBA Summer League but has yet to look successful an NBA regular-season game.

James Nnaji of Barcelona takes a changeable during nan Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 34 lucifer betwixt LDLC Asvel Villeurbanne and FC Barcelona astatine LDLC Arena connected April 12, 2024 successful Lyon, France. (Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, Nnaji’s move from nan EuroLeague to nan NBA Draft to Baylor added to nan outcry from assemblage coaches and others.

Arkansas men’s hoops caput coach John Calipari said nary 1 should beryllium permitted to play college basketball aft being drafted into nan pros, sloppy of world status.

"Real simple. The rules beryllium nan rules, truthful if you put your sanction successful nan [NBA Draft], I don't attraction if you're from Russia and you enactment successful nan draft, you can't play assemblage basketball," Calipari said Monday. "'Well, that's only for American kids.' What? If your sanction is successful that draft, and you sewage drafted, you can't play because that's our rule."

A NCAA Official Game Ball logo is seen connected a hoops earlier nan NCAA Division II National Championship Basketball crippled betwixt nan Minnesota State Mavericks and nan Nova Southeastern Sharks connected March 30, 2024, astatine nan Ford Center successful Evansville, Indiana. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Longtime Michigan State men’s hoops coach Tom Izzo besides weighed in, jokingly hinting he mightiness inquire pinch Spartans legends Ervin "Magic" Johnson and others astir returning to nan assemblage hardwood.

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"Why not? I mean, if that's what we're going to, shame connected nan NCAA," Izzo said. "Shame connected nan coaches, too. But shame connected nan NCAA, because coaches are gonna do what they gotta do, I guess. But nan NCAA is nan one. Those group connected those committees that are making those decisions to let thing truthful ridiculous and not deliberation of nan kid."

Gonzaga coach Mark Few appeared to return purpose astatine nan NCAA's activity structure, saying, "It's chaotic retired location correct now. We really don't person immoderate organizational aliases immoderate existent rules correct now. I deliberation guys are conscionable trying to do immoderate they can. Until there's a norm that says you can't do it, it's difficult to blasted anybody for doing what they're doing. Our deficiency of activity has really shown."

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