With the 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Hornets selected James Nnaji, a seven-foot center that played professional basketball overseas for FC Barcelona’s developmental team in Barcelona. Nnaji rarely took the floor for the Spanish club in his time there, averaging only six minutes-per-game in his forty-three games with the team. Despite the scarce amount of playing time in Spain, NBA scouts were still incredibly intrigued with Nnaji as a prospect, due to his astonishing coordination and his other-worldly athleticism.
Although his intangibles were enough to get him to the biggest stage in basketball, they weren’t enough to keep him on an NBA roster, as Nnaji never played a regular season game in his time in the NBA and continued to develop as a player in Barcelona. Now, one would believe that because Nnaji was drafted into the NBA and was playing professional basketball overseas, his college career is over. However, due to the current college eligibility rules that continue to be proven flawed by loopholes and short-cuts, James Nnaji is currently playing college basketball at the University of Baylor.
These tactics by coaches and players to work around the ethics of college basketball just to get an upper-hand over their competition are simply disgusting and unfair. Sadly, this isn’t the only example of athletes or coaches taking advantage of these rules.
On Oct. 20, 2025, the University of Louisville’s basketball program added a player to their already talented squad: London Johnson. If you have even the slightest of expertise in college basketball, you may be wondering, “Isn’t that too close to the start of the season for an athlete to commit to a different school?” Exactly. Except, Johnson didn’t come from a different college or even high school. The last time he played in a regulated basketball game was for the NBA G-League Ignite team in the NBA G-League, a professional league with the majority of the players having previously played in the NBA, in late March of 2024.
Although fans of college sports may be at the forefront of complaining about the eligibility rules, future college athletes are also concerned with the current state of college athletics.
“I think the main thing is that obviously, when you’re an older athlete, you’re much more developed, physically and as a basketball player,” senior basketball player at MCHS Adam Anwar, who aspires to play college basketball, states. “I think it kind of takes away opportunities from true freshman or even sophomores to develop and learn how to play a more professional brand of basketball.”
“It’s fair to a certain extent,” senior lacrosse player Devin Elbert explains when asked on if he thinks college athletes gaining extra years of eligibility is morally right. “For example, athletes who weren’t able to play because of COVID or an injury should be granted another year of eligibility. But, players who request another year of eligibility just to boost their stats or draft stock shouldn’t be given that opportunity.”
As college sports continue to gain popularity, it’s only a matter of time until college athletes across the country, regardless of sport, begin to overstay their welcome.