NCAA proposes barring players who opt in to, remain in draft

Key Points:

• A proposal suggests requiring prospects to withdraw from opt-in professional league drafts, like the NBA draft, before enrolling in college to align pre-college and post-college draft rules; this would not affect men's ice hockey and baseball since athletes don't opt in to those drafts.
• The proposal follows cases like Alabama's Charles Bediako and Baylor's James Nnaji, who played college basketball after entering the 2023 NBA draft under current NCAA rules.
• Bediako, who played in the G League after going undrafted, sued the NCAA to regain college eligibility, citing the five-year eligibility window, but ultimately lost after legal challenges and court rulings.
• Nnaji, drafted by the Detroit Pistons and having played professionally overseas, was granted NCAA eligibility because he never signed an NBA contract or played in the G League.
• Additional proposals include allowing prospects to sign with agents before college enrollment and permitting athletes to accept prize money in their sports without affecting eligibility, expanding beyond current restrictions.