OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - NCAA men’s college basketball has undergone a transformation this season, with an influx of players with NBA G League experience receiving immediate eligibility.
Alabama’s Charles Bediako is the most recent case, while Baylor’s James Nnaji, Santa Clara’s Thierry Darlan, BYU’s Abdullah Ahmed and Louisville’s London Johnson are all actively on their college’s roster.
Each have professional experience in the NBA G League.
Creighton head coach Greg McDermott addressed the changes in college basketball after Monday’s practice.
“Nobody really knows what the rules are,” McDermott said. “I don’t fault any coach that’s doing something within the rules and clearly it’s been within the rules.”
McDermott acknowledged that the Bluejays have pursued the international route for players who have professional experience overseas.
That includes junior guard Fedor Žugić, sophomore forward Kerem Konan and freshman center Aleksa Dimitrijevic, who is redshirting this season.
“We’ve got European guys that played professionally and had contracts and had to go through that vetting process to gain their eligibility,” McDermott said. “It’s unfortunate we don’t have a set of rules where everybody knows exactly what you can do and what you can’t do.”
“Coming out of G League and NBA contracts, I don’t know how that affects the game,” Žugić added. “I can’t foresee the future, it doesn’t really sound the best. I know it’s not very — coming from me, but it’s a whole different situation."
According to ESPN, the NCAA has filed a motion asking the judge in Bediako’s case to recuse himself, claiming that he is an Alabama booster.
In the world of preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders determining college basketball eligibility, McDermott said the age before NIL had more clear-cut rules in place.
“It used to be black and white,” he said. “You either could do this or you can’t. With this new world, it sure seems like there’s a lot of gray area.”
“People think if you get a G League guy, you’re automatically going to win a national championship,” Žugić added. “I don’t think that’s how it works.”
McDermott also joked that the probability of bringing back former Bluejays and current G Leaguers Trey Alexander (Birmingham Squadron, New Orleans Pelicans) and Steven Ashworth (Noblesville Boom, Indiana Pacers) is “unlikely at this stage.”
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