Baylor's Controversial In-Season Addition Enters Transfer Portal

James Nnaji's short-lived Baylor career comes to an end after just one season.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:43pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a college basketball game, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange representing the chaotic nature of the Nnaji saga.Nnaji's tumultuous tenure at Baylor reflects the complex realities of recruiting professional talent in the modern era of college sports.Waco Today

James Nnaji, a former NBA draft pick who joined Baylor's basketball team midway through the season, has entered the transfer portal after a tumultuous year with the Bears. Nnaji struggled with injuries and inconsistency, averaging just 1.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 18 appearances, and saw his playing time dwindle as the season progressed.

Why it matters

Nnaji's addition to Baylor's roster was controversial due to his prior professional experience, and his departure leaves the Bears needing to rebuild their frontcourt after the losses of standout centers Tarris Reed and Adey Mara to the national championship game.

The details

Nnaji was the 31st overall pick in last year's NBA draft but returned to college this season to try and boost Baylor's struggling frontcourt. However, he never found his footing, battling injuries and inconsistency throughout the year. After playing 18 minutes in a key win over Louisville, Nnaji saw his playing time dwindle to just six minutes or less for the rest of the season, mostly in garbage time.

  • Nnaji entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Nnaji averaged 1.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in 18 games played this season.

The players

James Nnaji

A former NBA draft pick who joined Baylor's basketball team midway through the 2025-26 season but struggled with injuries and inconsistency, averaging just 1.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Scott Drew

The head coach of the Baylor Bears, who acknowledged the controversial nature of recruiting G-League players but said he was simply operating within the current rules of college sports.

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What they’re saying

“I was getting a lot of insults and cuss words from people -- like really, really, really rude things coming towards me. I was like, 'But what did I do, man?' I'm as young as everybody in here.”

— James Nnaji

“You have two choices: one, partake, or two, you'll be left behind. And when it came out that you could recruit G League players, I was against it at first. I didn't want to do it, but we don't make the rules. If they say you can drive 80, you're going to drive 80. If you drive 70, you're going to get passed.”

— Scott Drew, Baylor Head Coach

What’s next

Baylor will need to find reinforcements for its frontcourt this offseason after the departures of Tarris Reed and Adey Mara to the national championship game, as well as Nnaji's transfer.

The takeaway

Nnaji's short-lived Baylor career highlights the challenges and controversies surrounding the recruitment of professional players in the current landscape of college sports, where coaches must navigate a complex set of rules to remain competitive.