With two former G League players recently committing to play for Division I schools, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he has no “respect” for the NCAA power brokers who allowed those moves to happen.
“I'm going to get in trouble, but I hear people talk about how kids changed. Kids aren't the problem, we're the problem,” Izzo told reporters Tuesday. “This was brought up to us again yesterday: A guy can be in the G League for two or three years and then all of a sudden he's eligible. Most of my people didn't know anything about it. … I'm not very excited about the NCAA or whoever is making these decisions, not talking to us, just letting it go. They're afraid of getting sued.”
On Monday, London Johnson, a former four-star recruit who averaged 7.6 points in three seasons in the G League, announced his commitment to Louisville. Last month, another G League player, Thierry Darlan, announced his commitment to Santa Clara.
Both moves appear to challenge the NCAA's previous amateurism and eligibility rules, which prohibited any player who had previously competed for money at the professional level from playing Division I basketball.
According to the NCAA Division I manual, any athlete who has been compensated as a professional beyond “actual and necessary expenses” (a category that includes health insurance, meals, lodging and transportation) cannot play college basketball. But the NCAA has recently changed those rules for multiple international prospects who have participated in professional leagues overseas.
The obscurity presented by the name, image, likeness and revenue sharing eras has made the line between professionals and amateurs grayer than ever.
Darlan, who is from the Central African Republic, played in the NBA Academy Africa program. His admission is more in line with other international professionals who recently gained Division I eligibility. While he was the first G League player in history to be granted eligibility to play college basketball, Johnson's commitment as a player without those international ties could be even more innovative and destructive, according to Izzo.
“Someone's going to say, 'Well, if they go pro and it doesn't work out, they should be able to come back,'” Izzo said, adding that college basketball “has no rules” right now.
“Well, what about the freshmen you recruited there? He's someone's kid and he thinks he has a good spot, and all of a sudden, shazam, they tip their hat and bring in a 21 or 22 year old kid.” [from the G League]. For me it's ridiculous. It's embarrassing and I love my job. I don't respect my profession and I don't respect whoever does it. Whoever made those decisions because they are afraid of being sued by a lawyer will sooner or later have to fight. … Maybe I'm the fool, but I will never accept those things.”
The G League could create another talent pool for college talent, which Izzo called a slippery slope for the sport.
“The NCAA has to regroup. They have to regroup. That's my opinion, just my opinion. Don't get mad at anyone else. Get mad at us, but I'm not going to get mad at the players. I'm going to get mad at the adults in the room, so don't blame the players anymore. Blame the adults who make the decisions, who allow some of these ridiculous things to happen.”
Tom Izzo, Michigan State coach
He joked, however, that the “silver lining” is that he could call up Magic Johnson, Jaren Jackson Jr. and other former Michigan State stars who have had success in the NBA since the NCAA's stance on former professionals being allowed to play college basketball appears to be changing. But he also made it clear that he does not see the issue as a laughing matter.
He said he's most concerned about high school seniors, who could lose their spots to G League players with professional experience, which could encourage more young players in the future to enter the transfer portal.
He also said the lack of communication from decision makers was concerning and challenged the NCAA to consider the “unintended consequences” of the recent actions.
“The NCAA has to regroup. They have to regroup,” Izzo said. “That's my opinion, just my opinion. Don't get mad at anyone else. Get mad at us, but I'm not going to get mad at the players. I'm going to get mad at the adults in the room so you don't blame the players anymore. Blame the adults who make the decisions, who allow some of these ridiculous things to happen. And then the unintended consequences hurt the kids who are trying to do it the right way with a process, without jumping from one side to the other. And that's my 2 cents, so put that wherever you want.”
