James Nagy, a former Detroit Pistons second-round draft pick, has joined Baylor University and is now eligible to play right away for their men’s basketball team, according to Jonathan Givony. This marks a remarkable and unique decision in college basketball history. Nnaji, aged 21, was the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, initially having his rights traded to the Charlotte Hornets and later to the New York Knicks in 2024. Despite this, he never signed an NBA contract and instead played professionally in Europe, most recently on loan to Yucatel Merkezefendi in Turkey from Spain’s FC Barcelona, where he averaged 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 points per game. After mutually agreeing to part ways with Barcelona post the 2024-25 season, Nnaji also participated in the 2025 NBA Summer League with the Knicks.
Originally listed at 6-foot-11 and 226 pounds at the time of the draft as an 18-year-old, Givony now measures him at 7 feet tall, weighing 251 pounds, with a 7-foot-7 wingspan. Analysts like Kyle Boone noted Nagy’s impressive size and athletic ability and saw potential value for the Hornets to have picked him at 31. In an unexpected turn, Nagy will continue playing college basketball over two years after being drafted. Currently, Baylor holds a 9-2 record this season and is missing key frontcourt players Jaslyn Bodo (due to an arm injury) and Mycol Perez (recovering from an ACL injury).
Fan Take: This unprecedented move of an NBA draftee returning to college basketball highlights new pathways for player development and could reshape how talent transitions between professional and collegiate levels. For fans, it’s an exciting chance to witness a high-level talent like Nagy refining his game and impacting college basketball’s competitive landscape.
