James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, is joining Baylor this season, his agents told DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony.
The Nigerian 7-footer was granted four years of eligibility by the NCAA, according to On3's Joe Tipton.
Nnaji, 21, was drafted by the Detroit Pistons but never played in an NBA game. He'll be the first athlete to play college basketball after being selected in the NBA draft.
James Nnaji is a massive midseason addition for Baylor: 7’0”, 251 pounds with a 7’7” wingspan.
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 24, 2025
The 21-year-old spent three seasons in the EuroLeague with Barcelona and appeared with the Knicks in Summer League last July. Here he is training with Serge Ibaka in 2023. https://t.co/0hnoOiTV9f pic.twitter.com/QSe3vfe5Vu
Nnaji most recently played for EuroLeague giants Barcelona, who released him from his contract in August. He initially joined the club in 2020. He spent the previous two seasons on loan at fellow Spanish side Girona and Turkish club Merkezefendi.
In July, he appeared in five Summer League games for the New York Knicks, who still own his draft rights after acquiring them from the Charlotte Hornets in the three-team deal that also brought in Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Former G Leaguers London Johnson and Thierry Darlan also debuted in the NCAA this year with Louisville and Santa Clara, respectively, though neither had ever declared for the draft. While all three played professionally overseas, neither Nnaji, Johnson, nor Darlan ever signed a standard NBA contract.
