Bobby Hurley says ASU is looking into making James Nnaji-type addition
ASU men's basketball head coach Bobby Hurley said the program is looking into making a move similar to Baylor's signing of 2023 NBA Draft pick James Nnaji.
Head coach Bobby Hurley of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts after a foul call during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers at Desert Financial Arena on December 21, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Arizona State men’s basketball head coach Bobby Hurley said the program is looking into making a midseason addition similar to Baylor’s signing of 2023 NBA Draft pick James Nnaji.
Hurley said while ASU likes its current roster, the program is looking at a couple of options with guard Vijay Wallace out for the season with an ankle injury.
“We were always gonna try to get better. We’ve had conversations as a staff and administration and we are talking to some kids currently,” Hurley told Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta on Tuesday. “I’m not saying we are definitely going to do it, but we are looking at a couple of options.”
Nnaji’s signing has become a polarizing topic among college coaches because the 7-foot center has played pro basketball overseas in Spain and was drafted No. 31 by the Detroit Pistons in 2023. He has not signed with an NBA team despite his draft rights being owned by the Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and most recently the New York Knicks.
The move has come under fire and left many questioning eligibility rules, including Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, Arkansas’ John Calipari and UConn’s Dan Hurley, the latter of whom called for rules and guidelines for these type of moves.
Bobby said he backed Baylor signing Nnaji, noting Santa Clara signing G League guard Thierry Darlan as the first program to open the door for schools to make similar signings. The NCAA has allowed players who played pro overseas to play in college, including ASU forward Andrija Grbovic.
“You have to do what’s in your program’s best interest to try to get better and give yourself the best chance to win as long as it’s within the rules that are presently being followed,” Hurley said. “I’m not even sure what the rules even are at times, but there’s got to be uniformity to what’s happening in the NCAA right now.”
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Comments
4 Comments
Desperate times. On the lookout for any warm body with potential. Have minutes and shots available. BUT, nobody wants to come to a team about to get its lights punched out for 20 games.
He's swinging a wiffle ball bat, though. The only reason he is here is that they couldn't let him go at the end of last season because of the gambling cloud and the Asst AD termination suit. They haven't even given him the dreaded vote of confidence. He could win 24 games, and he's still gone. He is the deadest duck coach ever and roster shows it. Each of these guys will be gone too, by next year. It's a 3-5 year rebuild, unless someone finds 8-10 NIL dollars lying around. The 4.5 or whatever that hasn't been promised to football ain't gonna cut it.
The NCAA "jumped the shark" a LONG time ago, and know we're in the Theater of the Absurd . . . What a joke. Bobby's got no contract, and this may be as desperate as it comes, but I appreciate Hurley going down swinging.