Tom Izzo on Baylor Signing Pro Player: ‘Shame on the NCAA’

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo blasted the NCAA and the current state of college basketball in the wake of Baylor signing former professional player James Nnaji, who was selected with the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

“Shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too,” Izzo told reporters on Saturday. “But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are going to do what they’ve got to do, I guess. But the NCAA’s the one—those people in those committees that are making those decisions to allow something so ridiculous, and not think of the kid.”

Nnaji, 21, is available to play immediately and has four years of eligibility. The Nigerian center has never played an official NBA or G League game, only a handful of Summer League games with the Hornets. He continued to play professionally in Europe after he was drafted.

Earlier this month, former European professional players Toni Bilić (Illinois) and Lucas Langarita (Utah) also joined college teams.

“What we’ve done in the NCAA has been an absolute travesty to me,” Izzo said. “We’re just worried about getting sued and we’re not gonna fight anybody. And I think leadership means you fight and you make decisions that are sometimes unpopular.”

Izzo, 70, has led Michigan State to eight Final Four appearances since taking over the program in 1995, including winning the national championship in 2000. 

The legendary coach’s frustration includes the job NCAA president Charlie Baker is doing. “I’m not going to tell you that this president, to me, is doing anything but running from leadership,” Izzo said.

Finally, Izzo said he would like to “poll 360 of the coaches, and see how many are in favor of what’s going on” in college basketball.

Michigan State is 11–1 this season, tied for first place in the Big Ten, and ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25 poll.