G-League: Theirry Darlan - First player granted NCAA eligibility

[MakeItSplash]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/46356407/ncaa-rules-former-g-league-player-thierry-darlan-eligible

The NCAA has ruled former G League Ignite player Thierry Darlan eligible to play Division I basketball at Santa Clara, his agent, Todd Ramasar, told ESPN.

Darlan becomes the first player to obtain NCAA eligibility after playing professionally in the G League, where he spent the past two seasons. He will enter college as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining.

Darlan, 21, who hails from the Central African Republic, was a graduate of the NBA Academy Africa program and played the 2023-24 season with Ignite, before the team ceased operations.

The influx of young international pro players onto Division I rosters offered precedent for Darlan's eligibility as a domestic-based professional, with the NCAA loosening its previously strict definitions of amateurism in recent years with the advent of name, image and likeness payments. The NCAA's decision to grant Darlan two years of eligibility was based on his age and years removed from high school at the NBA Academy, according to Ramasar.

After declaring for and withdrawing from the 2025 NBA draft, Darlan maintains the ability to declare again in 2026. He is expected to play a featured role at Santa Clara, which was involved in his original recruitment and has helped send guards Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski to the NBA in recent years.

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[UcanUwill]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

[Clav]

Darlan was also on the Rip City Remix for the first half of the GL season, and played for Delaware Blue Coats as well -- where he managed 10PPG. For GL Ignite he was a bench player -- two GL years exp.

There's a discussion to be had about the line of professionalism v. amateurism in sport. This is one of the precedent-setting moments that give more power to athletes to be professional and improve their career craft. I'm curious how he plays in NCAA after playing in a professional league... how will other schools react to this ?

In terms of amateur/professional, this is a very interesting facet of modern sport, it fascinates me. Our modern sporting world gives players avenues to make this whole sports thing a career, but it is very rare in general to make it in the NBA. He's young enough to still benefit from education or competition at that level, but not a player that earned a standard NBA deal, or TW, etc. He has more to improve, so I'm not against this decision. GL is professional basketball, but it is also a training ground for prospects. If NCAA takes this as case-by-case, other young players may find it works for them.

[Maxthirty]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

Well, now it doesn’t suck for the player at least. If you’re good enough to be drafted that young then many colleges will offer you millions for one year.

[LuDux1]

Arvydas Sabonis, professional agronomist and amateur basketball player

[Nate505]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

They aren't forced to go to college. They're forced to be 19.

[UcanUwill]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

They aren't forced to go to college. They're forced to be 19.

Of course they are forced, thats why all these prospects do one year of college. They are forced to spend one year in limbo after graduating school, and college is just best valuable option, I know there are alternatives, but it is even worse in most cases, so they are definitely forced to spend out a year due to age limit. I know NBA is closed business and they allowed to do whatever they want, but it doesn't mean I must like it, I think it sucks, a lot of NBA rules are very anti employee, but thats just how it is.

[Chuck Everett]

I don't get any of these situations. If you forgo amateur status to be a paid athlete and a professional, then that's what you are. None of this makes sense.

[CumberlandPosey]

true but the "amateurs" themselves get and got paid.

[LuDux1]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

They aren't forced to go to college. They're forced to be 19.

Of course they are forced, thats why all these prospects do one year of college. They are forced to spend one year in limbo after graduating school, and college is just best valuable option, I know there are alternatives, but it is even worse in most cases, so they are definitely forced to spend out a year due to age limit. I know NBA is closed business and they allowed to do whatever they want, but it doesn't mean I must like it, I think it sucks, a lot of NBA rules are very anti employee, but thats just how it is.

All except those that go to G-League, Europe or Australia

[druggas]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

You hate that players might learn something if they go to college? How about them taking a class on economics and learning to control their money? Education is never a bad thing!

[MrGoat]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

They aren't forced to go to college. They're forced to be 19.

Well, if you don't go the Cooper Flagg route. He's actually still going to be 18 for the first couple of months of the regular season. He's essentially the first straight from high school guy age wise in 20 years or so

[MrGoat]

I don't get any of these situations. If you forgo amateur status to be a paid athlete and a professional, then that's what you are. None of this makes sense.

Eh, the pros should have the stricter standards but NCAA... I recently saw a story about a 58 year old signing with a college football team because he could and had eligibility because he hadn't gone to college before, he was a powerlifter who had just retired but had always dreamed of being a college football player and apparently he can still cut it

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6645076/2025/09/23/oldest-college-football-player-tom-cillo/

[UcanUwill]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

You hate that players might learn something if they go to college? How about them taking a class on economics and learning to control their money? Education is never a bad thing!

Rudy Gobert made a video last season filming his teammates and asking them which continent Egypt is at, and none of them ''college students'' knew the answer... All that education is a sham and eveyrone knows it, a lot these basketball players on athletic scholarships do not have enough education to even understand what is being taught in these Universities, its a sham.

But my point is, it should be personal choice, if player wants to go to college thats fine, thats great even, I hate that its being forced, and who are you fooling thinking they actually learn anything. Yeah, they learn basketball stuff and we have less busts in the draft not drafting players out of higshchool, but thats the argumnt, not the actual education, these college students don't know where Egypt is at...

[magee]

There is no more "amateur" status in college hoops anymore. This is just the beginning. Players should be able to move to and from either league, as if they were executives going from Pepsi to Coke, or Samsung to Apple.

[UcanUwill]

There is no more "amateur" status in college hoops anymore. This is just the beginning. Players should be able to move to and from either league, as if they were executives going from Pepsi to Coke, or Samsung to Apple.

I was wondering what could happen, for example, last season, Jakucionis was paid same as a lot of Euroleague players, but he is nowhere near as good as basketball player at that monent. Will there be a day where colleges just sign Euroleague players or other pros? I imagine tight restrictions should still be heavily enforced, it is fine to allow 20 year old g leaguer in, but thats where the linr should be orherwise ncaa will literally be just a random pro league.

[druggas]

College is basically pro basketball now, so them refusing former pros would be pretty asinine honestly. Seems like most prospects who went to G league instead of college, hurt their draft value, guys like Jalen Green were exceptions. I just wish there was no age limit at the draft tho, I hate the fact people are forced to go to college for a year just cause, it just sucks.

You hate that players might learn something if they go to college? How about them taking a class on economics and learning to control their money? Education is never a bad thing!

Rudy Gobert made a video last season filming his teammates and asking them which continent Egypt is at, and none of them ''college students'' knew the answer... All that education is a sham and eveyrone knows it, a lot these basketball players on athletic scholarships do not have enough education to even understand what is being taught in these Universities, its a sham.

But my point is, it should be personal choice, if player wants to go to college thats fine, thats great even, I hate that its being forced, and who are you fooling thinking they actually learn anything. Yeah, they learn basketball stuff and we have less busts in the draft not drafting players out of higshchool, but thats the argumnt, not the actual education, these college students don't know where Egypt is at...

Who's fault is that? Free college education and they refuse to learn anything? I paid for my college education with the help of the G.I. loan that I received for my service in the military.

[Domejandro]

It’s a long overdue change, it’s always been dumb that players have been penalized for taking professional money (especially minors over in Europe). Everyone benefits from increased leniency.

[magee]

There is no more "amateur" status in college hoops anymore. This is just the beginning. Players should be able to move to and from either league, as if they were executives going from Pepsi to Coke, or Samsung to Apple.

I was wondering what could happen, for example, last season, Jakucionis was paid same as a lot of Euroleague players, but he is nowhere near as good as basketball player at that monent. Will there be a day where colleges just sign Euroleague players or other pros? I imagine tight restrictions should still be heavily enforced, it is fine to allow 20 year old g leaguer in, but thats where the linr should be orherwise ncaa will literally be just a random pro league.

There's technically no age restriction in college, so it is possible.

[UcanUwill]

You hate that players might learn something if they go to college? How about them taking a class on economics and learning to control their money? Education is never a bad thing!

Rudy Gobert made a video last season filming his teammates and asking them which continent Egypt is at, and none of them ''college students'' knew the answer... All that education is a sham and eveyrone knows it, a lot these basketball players on athletic scholarships do not have enough education to even understand what is being taught in these Universities, its a sham.

But my point is, it should be personal choice, if player wants to go to college thats fine, thats great even, I hate that its being forced, and who are you fooling thinking they actually learn anything. Yeah, they learn basketball stuff and we have less busts in the draft not drafting players out of higshchool, but thats the argumnt, not the actual education, these college students don't know where Egypt is at...

Who's fault is that? Free college education and they refuse to learn anything? I paid for my college education with the help of the G.I. loan that I received for my service in the military.

To be fair, these college athletes has insane training schedules, it is hard to focus on learning even if they want to, I imagine guys who are on sports scholarships, but not projected to turn pro definitely try. But NBA prospects? A lot of these guys where sport prodigies since early teens, they didn't become that by studying books to begin with and they know they will soon be paid more than most lawyers and doctors by playing a ball game anyway. Not all athletes are stupid of course, but a lot of them lack a lot of basic knowledge and they know they will be making money by doing sports.