James Nnaji, the former second-round pick of the Detroit Pistons, is now part of the Baylor men’s basketball team. He’s eligible to play immediately after competing in Europe. Nnaji, 21, was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, originally obtaining rights with the Charlotte Hornets before being traded to the New York Knicks in 2024. He has recently been active in the European league, specifically with Yukatel Merkezefendi in Turkey, where he averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.

His previous club, Barcelona, and he decided to part ways after the last season, allowing him this opportunity in college basketball after two years since his draft. This development marks a significant and unique return to college sports for Nnaji, as Baylor looks to bolster its lineup amid injury challenges to players like Juslin Bodo Bodo and Maikcol Perez.