A notable increase in the number of former NBA and overseas basketball players receiving permission to participate in college basketball has sparked significant discussion across the nation.

The NCAA stipulates that athletes can justify their college eligibility by adhering to the ‘amateur status’ requirements — these include being five or fewer years out of high school graduation, being a high school NCAA qualifier, and not having entered the NBA Draft or, if they did, not signing an NBA contract.

Michigan State’s head coach Tom Izzo raised concerns about this trend following Baylor’s acquisition of James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, who was granted eligibility to join at midseason.

Although Nnaji did not play in the NBA or G League, his time spent in Summer League games with the New York Knicks last July and professional play overseas has allowed his remarkable eligibility. He was active in the major trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, and Donte DiVincenzo.

Izzo voiced his dismay by saying, “I thought I’d seen the worst — then Christmas arrived. What transpired was more shocking. Now we’re recruiting players drafted in the NBA? The NCAA and the involved coaches should take responsibility.”

Scott Drew, the head coach of Baylor, responded amicably, affirming his friendship with Izzo but stressed the necessity to adapt to evolving circumstances and that coaches should work creatively within existing rules. Matt Painter and Rick Pitino expressed their frustrations with the bureaucratic unpredictability in eligibility standards, suggesting that the essence of college basketball had fundamentally changed.

In September, the NCAA allowed Thierry Darlan to join Santa Clara, marking him as the first G League player to play in college. Similar decisions followed with London Johnson for Louisville, and Abdullah Ahmed for BYU.

With this fast-growing trend, many wonder how many more players will soon follow suit.