Baylor Basketball

Baylor Adds Midseason Transfer, James Nnaji, to Help Bolster Big Man Rotation

Baylor’s men basketball has received a commitment from Nigerian center James Nnaji.
December 24, 2025
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Photo by Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Baylor men’s basketball has received a commitment from Nigerian center James Nnaji, a 7-foot-0, 250-pound big man who will be a midseason transfer. He is expected to be able to play for the Bears either in their final non-conference game on Dec. 29 or at the start of the second semester in January.

It’s an unprecedented move considering that Nnaji was selected 31st overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft. Nnaji’s draft rights were traded to Charlotte, as he played on the Hornets’ Summer League Team. In 2024, his rights were traded to the New York Knicks, along with star big man Karl-Anthony Towns, as part of a three-team trade. Nnaji played on the Knicks’ Summer League team in 2025.

Nnaji, however, has never played in an NBA game, but is another case study in pushing back the curtain on the NCAA’s powers, especially after it was determined that G-League players could return to play college basketball.

As Yahoo Sports put it, “The trend is a byproduct of the NCAA’s definition of amateurism loosening as college athletes have gained economic freedom. The line between pro and college athlete has blurred with the NCAA permitting athletes to profit from NIL deals.”

Nnaji spent time with FC Barcelona from 2020 to 2024 before being loaned to Girona of the Spanish Liga ACB, where he averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game across 14 games.

He then finished the 2024-2025 season with Merkezefendi of the Basketbol Super Ligi in Turkey, averaging 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in eight contests.

Baylor was forced to explore a midseason transfer because it had just one healthy big man on the roster, senior Caden Powell. Nnaji, who boasts a 7-foot-7 wingspan, should be another impactful big man as conference play heats up.

High Point transfer center Juslin Bodo Bodo was injured in the offseason and is now expected to redshirt. True freshmen bigs Maikcol Perez (ACL) and Mayo Soyoye (redshirt) are both out for the year as well.

Nnaji is just 21 years old, and will have four years of eligibility. He has no relation to former Arizona star and current Denver Nugget Zeke Nnaji.

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Baylor Adds Midseason Transfer, James Nnaji, to Help Bolster Big Man Rotation

34,960 Views | 130 Replies | Last: 14 days ago by boognish_bear
Hotsauce
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boognish_bear said:

Reading through the comments…the haters are coming out.

I can't really say that I blame them... if it happened with another team besides BU I would be thinking this doesn't really sound right.

Don't hate the playa, hate the game!
BluesBear
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boognish_bear said:




Let's be real. 1 player isn't going to immediately take this team from .500 middle of the pack conference team to the Top of the pile. Just isn't happening.
Bearsalwayswin
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you wanna bet?
Crawfoso1973
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If he was another guard or wing player I would agree. But Nnaji fills such a vital need for our team: rim protection, rebounding, setting screens, 5 hard fouls to give. His presence will create a cascade effect in our rotation, allowing Rataj and Skillings to play to their strengths on the wing instead of in the post. Carr and Tounde will look that much bigger going against opposing guards instead of opposing post players. It's kind of like in football when you bolster your offensive line your skill position players suddenly look so much better. By platooning Nnaji with Powell who is playing at an elite level, we will have a true post player in the game at all times instead of mixing/matching with Rataj and Skillings. With the Powell/Nnaji combo anchoring the 40 minutes in the post the rest of our team will look so much better especially defensively and on the glass. I also don't think integrating him will be too hard because we won't be featuring him offensively. Just setting screens and getting dunks on lobs and offensive rebounds.
gbfell
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Crawfoso1973 said:

If he was another guard or wing player I would agree. But Nnaji fills such a vital need for our team: rim protection, rebounding, setting screens, 5 hard fouls to give. His presence will create a cascade effect in our rotation, allowing Rataj and Skillings to play to their strengths on the wing instead of in the post. Carr and Tounde will look that much bigger going against opposing guards instead of opposing post players. It's kind of like in football when you bolster your offensive line your skill position players suddenly look so much better. By platooning Nnaji with Powell who is playing at an elite level, we will have a true post player in the game at all times instead of mixing/matching with Rataj and Skillings. With the Powell/Nnaji combo anchoring the 40 minutes in the post the rest of our team will look so much better especially defensively and on the glass. I also don't think integrating him will be too hard because we won't be featuring him offensively. Just setting screens and getting dunks on lobs and offensive rebounds.


What Crawfoso1973 said. This absolutely changes things.
Quinton
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BluesBear said:

boognish_bear said:




Let's be real. 1 player isn't going to immediately take this team from .500 middle of the pack conference team to the Top of the pile. Just isn't happening.

Depends on how good he is. Looks like he didn't fully pan out yet so tbd. But high D1 basketball isn't close to the best in the world. If he has hit 5 and 3 in Euro league.. he should be able to scrap together 7 and 7 with really good rim presence. That would take a team from top 35 to top 15 very, very quickly.

Now I have no idea how good this guy is but his film looks promising. It will take a few weeks at minimum to adjust. But ball is ball and D1 (even big 12) is a lower level of basketball. He should be able to produce.
WA Jim
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BluesBear said:

boognish_bear said:




Let's be real. 1 player isn't going to immediately take this team from .500 middle of the pack conference team to the Top of the pile. Just isn't happening.

I agree, even if he is really good it might improve our standing from say, barely on the outside of making the tourney to barely inside. But of course we have no idea how good he is. Watching some Euro Pro league highlights, where no one is playing defense, won't tell you anything.
Quinton
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Strong point and the first thing I thought of when announced. I was thinking Rataj specifically but your whole point is good. This could unlock Rataj, who clearly isn't comfortable in his current role. If he can relax into a skilled forward role, we might see a signficantly improved player while having a big presence at all times.

And I don't get some of the comments here. If he is good, it drastically improves this team. With Josh, last year's team would have won 3 more conference games at minimum, and this dude's tape is much better than Josh. The only real question is if he is legit (for the college level). We just don't know. He seems to have stagnated in recent years but Drew is proven at getting good minutes out of rangy bigs.

If he is good and Drew can get him in the flow.. the team gets significantly better. Again, the only difference is D1 and especially the big 12 allow teams to hack constantly. Euro is phyiscal too but skill is emphasized. Other than that, high euro is miles better than D1.. not sure what some here are talking about.
Johnny Bear
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While still a fan, I continue to hate what college sports has become in recent years with out of control NIL, the unrestricted transfer portal, and greatly loosened up eligibility rules - but given the situation is what it is, it's nice to see us creatively taking advantage of the rules for a change.
boognish_bear
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I'm curious what we are paying him.

FWIW... this is what ChatGPT says typical salaries are for players in the Turkish professional league he was playing in.

Quinton
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Big12Fan2024 said:

I love it!!!! I hope Drew and every other coach push the absurdity so far to the point that someone has to step in and define what college athletics are going to be.

Agree. I wish they would have gone all in for a high level euro/g-league PG at break while they're at it. Take this thing to its logical extreme and watch everyone lose their mind. Get Drew that second title and end the madness.. two birds one stone type deal.
boognish_bear
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Quinton said:

Big12Fan2024 said:

I love it!!!! I hope Drew and every other coach push the absurdity so far to the point that someone has to step in and define what college athletics are going to be.

Agree. I wish they would have gone all in for a high level euro/g-league PG at break while they're at it. Take this thing to its logical extreme and watch everyone lose their mind. Get Drew that second title and end the madness.. two birds one stone type deal.


Do we have an additional open spot on the roster where we could've potentially added one more?
WA Jim
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Quinton said:

Strong point and the first thing I thought of when announced. I was thinking Rataj specifically but your whole point is good. This could unlock Rataj, who clearly isn't comfortable in his current role. If he can relax into a skilled forward role, we might see a signficantly improved player while having a big presence at all times.

And I don't get some of the comments here. If he is good, it drastically improves this team. With Josh, last year's team would have won 3 more conference games at mimiunum, and this dude's tape is much better than Josh. The only real question is if he is legit (for the college level). We just don't know. He seems to have stagnated in recent years but Drew is proven at getting good minutes out of rangy bigs.

If he is good and Drew can get him in the flow.. the team gets significantly better. Again, the only difference is D1 and especially the big 12 allow teams to hack constantly. Euro is phyiscal too but skill is emphasized. Other than that, high euro is miles better than D1.. not sure what some here are talking about.

I know you know this, but High Euro is a different game than D1 - especially B12 - the guy has never played that top level D1 (Big12) - not quite sure High Euro is miles better than B12 top half - with the allowed hacking, smaller key, play style, etc. But before this add I had us hoping for .500 in B12 play. Even with this add, I would be shocked if we end up top 4.
boognish_bear
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Sad summary of current state of "college" sports



If you want stay in step as a college coach in the "new normal," you will need to conform to survive:

1. Academic requirements & graduate rates mean nothing to most families of star athletes. It's about the money.

2. Accept that agents now run college basketball. And, unlike NBA certified agents, many are clueless at best & shysters at worst. Still have to deal with them.

3. Evaluation of high school & transfer portal talent is at all-time low. These decisions are torpedoing even great programs. So hire people who know hoops.

4. You have to be willing to cut players who can't play. Do you want to feed their family or your family?

5. Cultivate "sugar daddies" for your program. But don't have them paying for bad evaluations. These are smart business people. You'll be cooked.

6. Hire an NBA guy that knows the international market (most of you already behind) or G League talent.

7. Study new world of NIL insurance so you are protected against liability when the athlete sues. You'll also need to determine how to claw back funds when player is injured for extended period of time.

8. Don't worry about tampering. That's out the window too.

Understand that, while some say college basketball is at it best right now, there will be unintended consequences. Some of it is good, some bad & much, an overcorrection. Anyone who thinks they know where this ends, especially with non-existent leadership at the top of the sport, is a fool.
Quinton
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WA Jim said:

Quinton said:

Strong point and the first thing I thought of when announced. I was thinking Rataj specifically but your whole point is good. This could unlock Rataj, who clearly isn't comfortable in his current role. If he can relax into a skilled forward role, we might see a signficantly improved player while having a big presence at all times.

And I don't get some of the comments here. If he is good, it drastically improves this team. With Josh, last year's team would have won 3 more conference games at mimiunum, and this dude's tape is much better than Josh. The only real question is if he is legit (for the college level). We just don't know. He seems to have stagnated in recent years but Drew is proven at getting good minutes out of rangy bigs.

If he is good and Drew can get him in the flow.. the team gets significantly better. Again, the only difference is D1 and especially the big 12 allow teams to hack constantly. Euro is phyiscal too but skill is emphasized. Other than that, high euro is miles better than D1.. not sure what some here are talking about.

I know you know this, but High Euro is a different game than D1 - especially B12 - the guy has never played that top level D1 (Big12) - not quite sure High Euro is miles better than B12 top half - with the allowed hacking, smaller key, play style, etc. But before this add I had us hoping for .500 in B12 play. Even with this add, I would be shocked if we end up top 4.

It is different style of play, but end of the day High Euro is way better than high D1. Doesn't mean the very top players in D1 aren't as good or better than the best Euro guys.. but overall play is much higher level.

The other thing is, this kid has top level athleticism for high D1. That won't be the problem which is one of the biggest risks for Euro to US. Doesn't mean there won't be adjustment. Euro refs would foul out Iowa St, Houston, and Arizona in the first half of the game. He'll have to get used to that style. But he'll also have the ability to play through mistakes.. euro coaches pull players quick and then just don't play them.

I agree, probably not catching Iowa St or Arizona. But if he is legit (big if), I could see taking games from BYU, Houston, Tech, and KU (unless they resolve their Bayloresqe injury situation.. then I would be very high on them).

I just looked it up and Juwan Roberts who was Houston's best big at year end.. literally averaging 6 and 4 in a German league (mid to upper mid in Euro pecking order) with over 18 minutes a game. The random euro from VT that has played his way into first round coversation.. was avg 8 and 1 last year (now 16 and 5 in D1)... Levels to this.
Johnny Bear
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Hope he's able to get to campus and be at least acclimated enough to see the floor for a few minutes against Arlington Baptist on 12/29.
Big12Fan2024
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Johnny Bear said:

Hope he's able to get to campus and be at least acclimated enough to see the floor for a few minutes against Arlington Baptist on 12/29.


And keep him away from any ATV's !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ewalker80
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This dude is 21 with three years of productive high level pro ball with potential nba starting center upside. CSD basically found a cheat code.
ImABearToo
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Whichever lawyer vetted this option and gave the okay, earned their money. Seems a stretch but if Eagle Scout Scott's good with it, let's go!
“Life is short, eat desert first!”
boognish_bear
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Rules are in place to keep teams from taking actual NBA players...I don't see what BU did as something leading to a change in that rule

Mitch Henessey
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BusyTarpDuster2017 said:

Man, I don't know. As bad as college sports was getting, this was a line that should not have been crossed, and I'm not happy that it's our Baylor that crossed it, even if allowable by the NCAA. A smelly can of worms has been opened, which was likely inevitable, but I just wish it was someone else who had opened it. Baylor has tirelessly built a highly respected program, and I fear it will now lose some, if not a lot, of that respectability. More will cheer on our losses than our wins now.

Well, I guess we now know why Drew was smiling so big when asked earlier about a possible mid-season roster addition. I also guess that Baylor will now be known as the school that not only sends its players to the first round of the NBA draft.... it GETS its players from the first round of the NBA draft as well.
There's a lot of inaccurate stuff in this post to address.

1) The line has already been crossed by a number of programs. For example, BYU added a former G League player who's already completed for them this season. Louisville had a guy walk off his G League team and play for them last weekend. Illinois is almost entirely comprised of former pro Euro players. We're by no means breaking any new ground here, except for the fact that Nnaji was drafted in 2021.

2) I got news for you, buddy. No one was rooting for us to succeed anyway. Far more already cheered on our losses. I personally don't give a rip what fans of other schools think about us.

3) The NBA only has 30 teams. As such, there are 30 picks in the first round, which means Nnaji was an early second round pick. Second round picks do not get guaranteed NBA contracts, and Nnaji was never signed to one, and has never gotten a dollar of compensation from the NBA. As stated above, the NCAA obviously doesn't consider any league other than the NBA to be "professional," evidenced by the fact that they've allowed European professional players to compete in the NCAA for years. This guy, according to the NCAA's interpretation, has maintained his amateur status.

I don't like the path the NCAA has gone down, but acting like we're the ones who crossed the Rubicon first is ridiculous.
BusyTarpDuster2017
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Mitch Henessey said:

BusyTarpDuster2017 said:

Man, I don't know. As bad as college sports was getting, this was a line that should not have been crossed, and I'm not happy that it's our Baylor that crossed it, even if allowable by the NCAA. A smelly can of worms has been opened, which was likely inevitable, but I just wish it was someone else who had opened it. Baylor has tirelessly built a highly respected program, and I fear it will now lose some, if not a lot, of that respectability. More will cheer on our losses than our wins now.

Well, I guess we now know why Drew was smiling so big when asked earlier about a possible mid-season roster addition. I also guess that Baylor will now be known as the school that not only sends its players to the first round of the NBA draft.... it GETS its players from the first round of the NBA draft as well.

There's a lot of inaccurate stuff in this post to address.

1) The line has already been crossed by a number of programs. For example, BYU added a former G League player who's already completed for them this season. Louisville had a guy walk off his G League team and play for them last weekend. Illinois is almost entirely comprised of former pro Euro players. We're by no means breaking any new ground here, except for the fact that Nnaji was drafted in 2021.

2) I got news for you, buddy. No one was rooting for us to succeed anyway. Far more already cheered on our losses. I personally don't give a rip what fans of other schools think about us.

3) The NBA only has 30 teams. As such, there are 30 picks in the first round, which means Nnaji was an early second round pick. Second round picks do not get guaranteed NBA contracts, and Nnaji was never signed to one, and has never gotten a dollar of compensation from the NBA. As stated above, the NCAA obviously doesn't consider any league other than the NBA to be "professional," evidenced by the fact that they've allowed European professional players to compete in the NCAA for years. This guy, according to the NCAA's interpretation, has maintained his amateur status.

I don't like the path the NCAA has gone down, but acting like we're the ones who crossed the Rubicon first is ridiculous.

So we didn't cross a rubicon.... but he was drafted, so we did. Makes sense.

I know it helps to feel better about all of it by rationalizing it. But the truth is so many people are saying this is a complete joke, and the association is with Baylor. The only Baylor fans not bothered by this are likely the ones who were perfectly fine with selling the soul of college sports with NIL, and thus wouldn't mind losing a little dignity for the sake of wins. And that's sad.
Mitch Henessey
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BusyTarpDuster2017 said:

Mitch Henessey said:

BusyTarpDuster2017 said:

Man, I don't know. As bad as college sports was getting, this was a line that should not have been crossed, and I'm not happy that it's our Baylor that crossed it, even if allowable by the NCAA. A smelly can of worms has been opened, which was likely inevitable, but I just wish it was someone else who had opened it. Baylor has tirelessly built a highly respected program, and I fear it will now lose some, if not a lot, of that respectability. More will cheer on our losses than our wins now.

Well, I guess we now know why Drew was smiling so big when asked earlier about a possible mid-season roster addition. I also guess that Baylor will now be known as the school that not only sends its players to the first round of the NBA draft.... it GETS its players from the first round of the NBA draft as well.

There's a lot of inaccurate stuff in this post to address.

1) The line has already been crossed by a number of programs. For example, BYU added a former G League player who's already completed for them this season. Louisville had a guy walk off his G League team and play for them last weekend. Illinois is almost entirely comprised of former pro Euro players. We're by no means breaking any new ground here, except for the fact that Nnaji was drafted in 2021.

2) I got news for you, buddy. No one was rooting for us to succeed anyway. Far more already cheered on our losses. I personally don't give a rip what fans of other schools think about us.

3) The NBA only has 30 teams. As such, there are 30 picks in the first round, which means Nnaji was an early second round pick. Second round picks do not get guaranteed NBA contracts, and Nnaji was never signed to one, and has never gotten a dollar of compensation from the NBA. As stated above, the NCAA obviously doesn't consider any league other than the NBA to be "professional," evidenced by the fact that they've allowed European professional players to compete in the NCAA for years. This guy, according to the NCAA's interpretation, has maintained his amateur status.

I don't like the path the NCAA has gone down, but acting like we're the ones who crossed the Rubicon first is ridiculous.

So we didn't cross a rubicon.... but he was drafted, so we did. Makes sense.

I know it helps to feel better about all of it by rationalizing it. But the truth is so many people are saying this is a complete joke, and the association is with Baylor. The only Baylor fans not bothered by this are likely the ones who were perfectly fine with selling the soul of college sports with NIL, and thus wouldn't mind losing a little dignity for the sake of wins. And that's sad.
If you want to be technical about it, Larry Bird was drafted by the Celtics in 1978 and returned to Indiana State and competed in 1979. So, we're not the first there, either.

Maybe facts just aren't you thing.
IowaBear
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Great pick up for BU. But it furthers just how absurd college athletics have become. The guy was drafted 3 years ago… what's next? Lebron retiring from the nBA to take a stab at the college game as a 40 something freshman.
BusyTarpDuster2017
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Mitch Henessey said:

BusyTarpDuster2017 said:

Mitch Henessey said:

BusyTarpDuster2017 said:

Man, I don't know. As bad as college sports was getting, this was a line that should not have been crossed, and I'm not happy that it's our Baylor that crossed it, even if allowable by the NCAA. A smelly can of worms has been opened, which was likely inevitable, but I just wish it was someone else who had opened it. Baylor has tirelessly built a highly respected program, and I fear it will now lose some, if not a lot, of that respectability. More will cheer on our losses than our wins now.

Well, I guess we now know why Drew was smiling so big when asked earlier about a possible mid-season roster addition. I also guess that Baylor will now be known as the school that not only sends its players to the first round of the NBA draft.... it GETS its players from the first round of the NBA draft as well.

There's a lot of inaccurate stuff in this post to address.

1) The line has already been crossed by a number of programs. For example, BYU added a former G League player who's already completed for them this season. Louisville had a guy walk off his G League team and play for them last weekend. Illinois is almost entirely comprised of former pro Euro players. We're by no means breaking any new ground here, except for the fact that Nnaji was drafted in 2021.

2) I got news for you, buddy. No one was rooting for us to succeed anyway. Far more already cheered on our losses. I personally don't give a rip what fans of other schools think about us.

3) The NBA only has 30 teams. As such, there are 30 picks in the first round, which means Nnaji was an early second round pick. Second round picks do not get guaranteed NBA contracts, and Nnaji was never signed to one, and has never gotten a dollar of compensation from the NBA. As stated above, the NCAA obviously doesn't consider any league other than the NBA to be "professional," evidenced by the fact that they've allowed European professional players to compete in the NCAA for years. This guy, according to the NCAA's interpretation, has maintained his amateur status.

I don't like the path the NCAA has gone down, but acting like we're the ones who crossed the Rubicon first is ridiculous.

So we didn't cross a rubicon.... but he was drafted, so we did. Makes sense.

I know it helps to feel better about all of it by rationalizing it. But the truth is so many people are saying this is a complete joke, and the association is with Baylor. The only Baylor fans not bothered by this are likely the ones who were perfectly fine with selling the soul of college sports with NIL, and thus wouldn't mind losing a little dignity for the sake of wins. And that's sad.

If you want to be technical about it, Larry Bird was drafted by the Celtics in 1978 and returned to Indiana State and competed in 1979. So, we're not the first there, either.

Maybe facts just aren't you thing.

Then facts aren't "you" thing either, since you acknowledged the same thing.

And I think we both know that both the draft in '78 and Larry Bird's case were completely different.
Mitch Henessey
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IowaBear said:

Great pick up for BU. But it furthers just how absurd college athletics have become. The guy was drafted 3 years ago… what's next? Lebron retiring from the nBA to take a stab at the college game as a 40 something freshman.
You jest, but this does open someone like him up to go and play NCAA football if he were to choose to do so. Maybe he can realize his lifelong dream of playing TE at tOSU.
historian
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Lots of potential here based on impressive film. Like others, I believe this addition provides the possibility that he will elevate the rest of the team resulting in overall improvement.

"We're the second best league behind the NBA."
Yorkmark
“Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!”
Psalm 119:36
boognish_bear
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Izzo with some critical comments about CSD making this move

BearFan33
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boognish_bear said:

Izzo with some critical comments about CSD making this move




We are running a 7 man rotation due to mainly injury and also inexperience.

It's the NCAAs fault not SD. If we didn't get him someone else would have.
boognish_bear
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Izzo has not been exactly been running the cleanest program around
Reverend
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Izzo's crocodile tears for the poor guy who's been busting his rear for three years to get in the rotation is hollow. It's what you're going for every time you take a recruit or sign someone through the portal.
boognish_bear
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TWD 1974
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boognish_bear said:



I think what is key here is James Nnaji never signed a contract with an NBA team. As in the case of Larry Bird, The Celtics drafting him a year early did not affect his ability to finish his college career, or in the case of Nnaji begin one.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
Jack Bauer
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Jack Bauer
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