In a highly charged Big 12 conference opener on Saturday, Baylor's freshly minted college basketball player James Nnaji, a participant in the 2023 NBA draft, endured persistent boos from the crowd at Texas Christian University's home arena. The 7-foot Nigerian center, who was recently announced as a Baylor signee, faced audible hostility not only upon his entry into the game but each time he handled the basketball.
TCU supporters expressed their discomfort most distinctly when Nnaji verbally contested an official's call, prompting Baylor's head coach Scott Drew to promptly substitute the 21-year-old athlete. Nnaji's departure followed shortly after he collected his fourth personal foul with roughly four minutes remaining in TCU's 69-63 victory.
The prospect of Nnaji incurring a fifth foul and consequently leaving the court permanently appeared to excite TCU's fans, intensifying the atmosphere in this rivalry matchup between two institutions separated by approximately 100 miles. Both coaches, Drew and TCU's Jamie Dixon, found themselves taken aback by the intensity of the crowd's reaction to Nnaji's presence—the signing of which had stirred debate in college basketball circles since it was announced on Christmas Eve.
"James did nothing wrong," Drew remarked post-game. "Baylor did nothing wrong, and I know he's human and just making sure he doesn't feel that. If James was an NBA player today, he would be in the NBA."
Nnaji, who played professionally in Europe for four years before being drafted by Detroit as the 31st overall pick at age 18 two and a half years ago, has had his draft rights exchanged among NBA teams, currently held by New York via Charlotte.
Given that Nnaji never signed a professional NBA contract, the NCAA released a statement reaffirming that only players with signed NBA deals are rendered ineligible. Some athletes with G League experience but lacking NBA contracts have recently enrolled in college programs, making Nnaji's case part of a growing but controversial trend.
Because Nnaji has not previously attended a U.S. college, he retains four years of eligibility. Coach Drew emphasized that Nnaji and his family are principally motivated by the opportunity to secure a degree. Nnaji did not provide comments following his inaugural collegiate appearance.
"James is a great young man," Drew added, elaborating on Nnaji's background: "He grew up playing piano in church. His mother is most thrilled about his chance to earn a degree. His brother is a mechanical engineer. His sister is pursuing a master's degree. Given his short preparation period and having not played competitively for seven months while recovering from injury, I thought he performed admirably."
Dixon acknowledged that such crowd reactions generally go unnoticed by players and coaching staff during competition, even sharing a lighthearted moment with Drew about his newfound notoriety. A notable moment came when an individual in TCU's student section displayed a sign challenging Drew's respectability among college coaches.
Many prominent coaches, including John Calipari from Arkansas, have voiced disapproval of Nnaji's signing but refrain from blaming any coaching staff, attributing responsibility instead to inadequate regulatory standards as college basketball navigates an evolving landscape. International talent influx, single-season college tenures, and the influx of name, image, and likeness (NIL) money have collectively stressed the NCAA framework.
"Call it what it is," Dixon asserted. "We have professional basketball with no cap, no draft, no rules, no interpretation. It's not in writing. You can be as good as you want to be. You've seen that in football. You've seen it in basketball. Put the resources into it."
Nnaji's initial collegiate points materialized on an emphatic putback dunk — the rare instance the crowd's boos were replaced by cheers, notably from TCU fans. The loudest support from the opposition also came when Nnaji missed his first college free throw but converted the following attempt. Drew had no predetermined plan regarding Nnaji's playing time but refrained from reinserting him after his fourth foul.
On how Nnaji is adapting to the intense attention, Drew offered: "Good. The fact that he’s excited about going to class, obtaining a degree, being around peers his age, and experiencing college life — that excites me. It's akin to any parent giving a Christmas gift and the child enjoying it." Yet, many in the college basketball community remain uneasy about this situation.