With two former G League players recently committing to play for Division I schools, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said he doesn’t “respect” the NCAA powerbrokers who’ve allowed those moves to happen.

“I am going to get myself in trouble, but I listen to people talk about how kids changed. Kids aren’t the problem, we’re the problem,” Izzo told reporters Tuesday. “This was sprung on us again yesterday where 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 knew nothing about it. … I’m not real excited about the NCAA or whoever is making these decisions, without talking to us, just letting it go. They’re afraid they’re going to get sued.”

On Monday, London Johnson — a former four-star recruit who has averaged 7.6 points over 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 seem to defy the NCAA’s previous amateurism and eligibility rules, which barred any players who had previously competed for money at a professional level from playing Division I basketball.

Per the NCAA’s 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 bent those rules recently for multiple international prospects who’ve participated in professional leagues overseas.

The murkiness presented by the name, image and likeness and revenue share eras have made the line between professional and amateur grayer than it has ever been.

Darlan, who is from the Central African Republic, played in the NBA Academy Africa program. His admission is more in line with the other international professionals who’ve recently secured 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 groundbreaking — and destructive, according to Izzo.

“Someone is going to say, ‘Well, if they go pro and it doesn’t work out, they should be able to come back,'” said Izzo, who added that college basketball has “no rules” right now.

“Well, what about the freshmen you recruited there? That’s somebody’s son and he thinks he’s got himself a good place, and all of a sudden, shazam, they pull out of their hat and bring a 21- or 22-year-old in [from the G League]. To me, it’s ridiculous. It’s embarrassing, and I love my job. I don’t respect my profession, and I don’t respect whoever is doing that. Whoever made those decisions because they’re afraid that a lawyer is going to sue them, sooner or later, you’ve got to fight the fight. … Maybe I’m the dummy, but I’ll never agree to that stuff.”

The G League could create another talent pipeline for collegiate talent, which Izzo called a slippery slope for the sport.

“The NCAA has got to regroup. They’ve got to regroup. That’s my opinion — only my opinion. Don’t be mad at anybody else. Be mad at us, but I’m not going to be mad at the players. I’m going to be mad at the adults in the room and so don’t blame the players anymore. Blame the adults that make the decisions, that allow some of these ridiculous things to happen.”

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo

He joked, however, that the “silver lining” is that he might call Magic Johnson, Jaren Jackson Jr. and other former Michigan State stars who’ve 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 doesn’t view 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 even more young players in the future to enter the transfer portal.

He also said the lack of communication from decision-makers was troubling and he challenged the NCAA to consider the “unintended consequences” of the recent moves.

“The NCAA has got to regroup. They’ve got to regroup,” Izzo said. “That’s my opinion — only my opinion. Don’t be mad at anybody else. Be mad at us, but I’m not going to be mad at the players. I’m going to be mad at the adults in the room and so don’t blame the players anymore. Blame the adults that make the decisions, that allow some of these ridiculous things to happen. And then the unintended consequences hurt kids that are trying to do it the right way with a process, not jumping around. And that’s my 2 cents, so put that wherever you want.”

Braden Smith played with Zach Edey in the 2024 national championship game and followed his large footsteps by becoming an All-American last season.

The Purdue guard had a chance to leave for the NBA over the summer, but, like Edey before him, decided to return for another chance at a national championship under coach Matt Painter.

Smith’s decision earned him another similarity to Edey: unanimous preseason All-American.

Smith earned all 57 votes from a media panel in The Associated Press preseason All-America team released on Monday, a week after the Boilermakers were voted preseason No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time. He was joined on a big-man-heavy first team by Texas Tech‘s JT Toppin (52 votes), Michigan‘s Yaxel Lendeborg (30), BYU freshman AJ Dybantsa (22) and Florida forward Alex Condon (16).

“That’s just how Purdue has always been, how every player has always been,” Smith said. “Paint recruits players, recruits the same people, and that’s how they think, how we think. We always want to be a part of a program like this, a culture like this.”

Smith has been one of the nation’s most productive guards since his freshman season at Purdue in 2022-23. The heady 6-foot guard played a key role on the Boilermakers’ first run to the national title game in 2024, averaging 12 points, 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while setting a school record for minutes.

Smith was even better as a junior last season, becoming the first player in NCAA history to have at least 550 points, 300 assists, 150 rebounds and 75 steals in a season. Smith averaged 15.8 points, 8.7 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game on a team that reached the Sweet 16.

Toppin’s impact

Toppin had a superb first season at Texas Tech after transferring from New Mexico.

The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks while leading the Red Raiders to the Elite Eight, where they lost to eventual national champion Florida. Toppin was a second-team AP All-American and the Big 12 Player of the Year before opting to return to a team ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll.

Landing Lendeborg

Lendeborg had a successful stint at UAB, helping lead the Blazers to the 2024 NCAA tournament. After testing the NBA waters, the 6-9 forward decided he wanted a chance to reach the Final Four, so he stayed in college and transferred to Michigan.

The addition of Lendeborg helped the Wolverines earn a No. 7 ranking in the preseason poll after reaching the Sweet 16 a year ago.

Last season, Lendeborg joined Indiana State‘s Larry Bird as the only players to have 600 points, 400 rebounds and 150 assists in a season. He averaged 15.8 points and 11 rebounds per game in two seasons at UAB, earning American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors both years.

AJ arrives

BYU took a big step in its first season under coach Kevin Young last season by reaching the Sweet 16.

The No. 8 Cougars have even higher expectations this season after landing Dybantsa.

The nation’s No. 1 recruit had nearly every major program jockeying for his services but chose to play in Provo. The athletic 6-9 forward is an efficient scorer who finishes strong at the rim, has a good midrange game and is a superb defender — attributes that have him projected as a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick.

Condon returns

Condon announced he was heading to the NBA draft after Florida’s national championship last season before changing his mind.

The 6-11 Australian averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while leading Gators with 49 blocked shots. Condon was superb in the national title game against Houston, finishing with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, diving for a loose ball in the closing seconds of the 65-63 win.

Condon returned for a chance to lead the Gators to consecutive national titles and helped them earn a No. 3 ranking in the AP preseason poll.