Former NBA draft pick returns to college basketball

Just 2 years ago, James Nnaji was selected successful the NBA draft, and contiguous helium is backmost successful assemblage basketball. The Nigerian center, who is lone 21 years old, unexpectedly stepped up from Baylor and received support to play immediately, which caused large astonishment successful the American sports public. This benignant of determination is seldom seen, particularly erstwhile it comes to a subordinate who was already portion of the NBA draft.

The gangly hoops subordinate was chosen arsenic the 31st prime successful 2023, aft a precise bully play successful Barcelona. The Detroit Pistons selected him, but instantly passed him connected to the Charlotte Hornets, truthful that his draught rights aboriginal ended up with the New York Knicks arsenic portion of the commercialized for Karl-Anthony Towns. Although helium played for the Knicks successful the Summer League successful Las Vegas, the young halfway ne'er played successful an authoritative NBA game, arsenic helium remained nether declaration successful Europe.

As it is allowed

His instrumentality to the university, successful the mediate of the season, sets a precedent successful NCAA basketball. Although assemblage teams are already utilized to the accomplishment of erstwhile European professionals, the lawsuit of the 213-centimeter-tall halfway is inactive special. The cardinal constituent is that helium ne'er signed a modular NBA declaration oregon played an authoritative NBA game. That is why, aft an idiosyncratic assessment, helium was fixed the greenish airy to play successful the assemblage league.

Rule changes, specified arsenic the NIL strategy and the transportation portal, person further blurred the enactment betwixt nonrecreational and assemblage basketball. It is besides absorbing that the New York Knicks inactive ain his draught rights, which means that they could theoretically motion him portion helium is playing for Baylor, which was astir unthinkable until a fewer years ago.

As for his hoops qualities, helium is an highly beardown and physically ascendant player. An limb span of 231 centimeters, bully mobility and a feeling for protecting the hoop were the reasons wherefore helium attracted the attraction of NBA scouts. He is known arsenic a subordinate who jumps good successful onslaught and easy ends actions with dunks.

For Baylor, this accomplishment comes astatine the close time. The squad is 9-2 and has 1 of the champion offenses successful the country, but their defence is simply a problem. Considering that they don't person a subordinate taller than 206 centimeters successful their rotation, the accomplishment of a young halfway could importantly alteration their show up of the demanding games successful the Big 12 conference.