Move Over NIL -- The New Plague of College Sports: G-Leaguers Going to CBB

There's plenty to complain about when it comes to the current landscape of College Athletics -- NIL and Transfer Portal no doubt being two of the biggest offenders. And while I think the current system has plenty of room for improvement, I don't think either pose as big of a threat to College Sports as this recent trend.

Players that have been drafted in the NBA, or signed NBA Deals, going back to play college basketball.

Even if you aren't a college basketball sicko like me, chances are you've still heard something about this topic. It all really started about a month ago when James Nnaji -- who was the #31 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft -- was announced to be enrolling at Baylor University. Nnaji was drafted after playing professionally for FC Barcelona in Spain, and he's spent the last 2 seasons bouncing around the G-League affiliate teams -- but never played an official NBA game.

This announcement shook the CBB world -- a guy that was drafted to the NBA 2 years ago coming back to play College Basketball? How does that work?

The reason he gained eligibility to play is because, technically, he's never signed an official NBA contract. He's played only in the G-League, which helped him maintain an amateur status rather than a professional status -- which was the primary reason he gained clearance.

You may be asking yourself, "but how does he have amateur status if he played professionally in Europe?" Excellent question! The reason: the NCAA allows exceptions for international players. There are tons of international players currently playing in College basketball who played professionally in Europe -- notables include Dame Sarr at Duke, Luka Bogavac at UNC, Thies De Ridder at UVA, Neo Avdalas at Va Tech.

The key in being able to play in the NCAA after being a pro in Europe is if the players have "only received 'actual and necessary expenses' rather than a significant professional salary." Essentially, so long as the players weren't making bank roll for their pro clubs in Europe, they can come make real NIL money in the NCAA.

There is also a rule in place that states as long as a player is within the 5-year window of their expected high school graduation, since they never played Collegiately in the U.S., they are eligible to begin their 4-year collegiate clock. James Nnaji fit this mold, and was given clearance to play for Baylor.

I hated this at the time -- and I still hate that it was allowed now -- but by the rules that have been set in place by the NCAA, it was deemed allowed. I said that I thought it set a dangerous precedent for other players in the G-League, and that it would cloud the waters of College Basketball. Which is not only bad for the sport as a product -- it hurts the young players in the sport that will be losing playing time, NIL opportunities, and growth opportunities.

And now, there's an even more questionable scenario that is playing out.

Charles Bediako was a player at Alabama from 2021-2023. He played High School basketball at IMG Academy in Florida, entered the 2023 NBA Draft and went undrafted. Bediako signed multiple NBA contracts -- including a 2-way deal with the Spurs -- but has never played in an NBA game.

Bediako and Alabama submitted an initial reinstatement request to the NCAA, which was denied. He then sued the NCAA for denying his request, citing: "bias and comparing his situation to other international players with professional experience who were cleared."

Before diving in further -- this is laughably stupid. Bediako is from Canada, so yes, he is technically an international player. However, he played 2 seasons at Bama. He went to high school in Florida. There's no similarities to Bediako's case to other international players.

Bediako's case was taken to local government -- where an Alabama judge granted him a "TRO" (Temporary Restraining Order) ruling him eligible immediately and without restriction of the NCAA for a 10-day period.

He returned to the Crimson Tide and Coach Nate Oats last week and played in Alabama's game on Saturday against Tennessee. Despite 13 points from Bediako, Bama still got beat by the unranked Volunteers in their home gym.

Now Bediako has an injunction hearing set on Tuesday 1/27, where we will find out whether he is cleared to play the rest of the season with Alabama, or if the NCAA's initial denial of his reinstatement will be upheld.

His head coach Nate Oats had this to say regarding the impending hearing:

"Everywhere I've been and going back to my high school days, I'm going to do right by my players, every single situation, as long as they didn't do anything wrong," Oats said. "Charles has done nothing wrong."

Ironic that Nate Oats wanted to cite his experience as a High School coach with this situation, because it's the same thing he did a month ago when James Nnaji was deemed eligible by the NCAA.

On Nnaji signing with Baylor, Oats said: "I think it's taking away opportunities from kids coming out of high school. I was a high school coach for 11 years. I wanted my kids to get opportunities when they left my program. This is taking away opportunities from those kids."

So when someone else gets to do it, it's taking away opportunities for high school kids. But when it gives Oats' team a better chance to win -- because he didn't recruit any good big guys and struck out in the Transfer portal on guys that can't play -- it's totally okay. Rules for thee, not for me mentality.

Also ironic when Oats says "as long as they didn't do anything wrong," while he had players in his program in active murder investigations the last time Bediako was on the roster -- notably his star player Brandon Miller, who provided the gun that was used in the murder, of which the investigation is ongoing (more to come on that soon).

The even bigger story within this whole situation — is how exactly Charles Bediako got the TRO that gave him a 10-day eligibility period to come play for Alabama. Like we mentioned before, a local judge granted the TRO after the NCAA denied their original reinstatement request.

But the problem with that is the Judge who granted the TRO -- James H. Roberts Jr. -- is a major donor to the University of Alabama. He and his wife are listed as "Circle Donors" to the university -- meaning they donate 6-figures a year to The Crimson Tide Foundation. In the "$100,000 to $249,999" category is what I read. Would seem to be a pretty clear conflict of interest.

But just to muddy the waters even further -- his wife -- Mary Turner Roberts -- just so happens to be the defense attorney representing former Alabama Basketball player Darius Miles. Yes, the very same investigation involving Brandon Miller -- she's the one defending Oats' former player.

Darius Miles is still on trial, along with Michael Davis. Brandon Miller is playing for the Charlotte Hornets.

This entire situation is just disgusting -- and it's fitting that it revolves around a disgusting program like Alabama, and an absolute dirtbag of a head coach like Nate Oats.

And God forbid the hearing on Tuesday grants Bediako eligibility for the rest of the season -- because you can bet your ass we will see a lot more players from the G-League exploring this path, and using Bediako's situation as precedent for approval.

There are already G-League players exploring returns to college hoops and are in contact with schools -- Trentyn Flowers is one that comes to mind, as stories have come out about him going to college and taking a path similar to Nnaji.

The floodgates were cracked open with the International player rules, and they were thrown wide open with the Nnaji ruling. Now, if Bediako is granted eligibility for the rest of the season, there will be precedent set for damn near any NBA player with college eligibility remaining to return to school.

I can deal with the transfer portal madness and guys breaking their NIL contracts -- but I simply can't deal with players signing NBA contracts and trying to come back to College Basketball.

Things are messy enough in this sport -- don't let it get even worse, NCAA.