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Former NBA draft pick James Nnaji announces transfer destination
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- Former NBA draft pick James Nnaji announces transfer destination
A 2023 NBA second-rounder will continue his college career with another team. Center James Nnaji will transfer from the Baylor Bears to the George Mason Patriots, according to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express . Nnaji has three seasons of eligibility remaining
Nnaji's inclusion in college basketball is controversial. The 21-year-old center from Makurdi, Nigeria was drafted No. 31 by the Detroit Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft. His rights have been traded twice; first to the Charlotte Hornets and then to the New York Knicks in the Karl-Anthony Towns deal.
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However, he never played college basketball before his draft selection. He played three seasons with FC Barcelona before his selection, and he bounced around in multiple leagues (Basquet Girona, Merkezefendi) from 2024-25.
Nnaji is still eligible to play in college basketball because he never played in an NBA game, never enrolled in a college, and was within five years of what would've been his high school graduation. As a result, he committed to the Baylor Bears in 2025.
Through the 2025-26 season, he seldom earned playing time. With just 8.2 minutes per game, he averaged 1.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.2 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 18 games. The Bears went 17-17 and 6-12 in the Big 12, far from their usual norm under Scott Drew. As a result, Nnaji entered the portal .
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Now he joins a George Mason team that went 23-10 last season, including 11-7 in the Atlantic 10. They had one of the best defenses in the league, with their 67.8 points allowed per game ranking No. 37 in the nation. However, their loss to St. Bonaventure in the first round prevented them from making March Madness, and they also lost in the first round of the NIT to the Liberty Flames. Hopefully, Nnaji can develop and provide a spark for the Patriots.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Former NBA draft pick James Nnaji announces transfer destination
