London Johnson, a G League player for the last three seasons, committed to play for the Louisville Cardinals.
G-League guard London Johnson has committed to Louisville, a source tells @On3sports.
The 21-year-old floor general spent last season in the G League with the Maine Red Claws and Cleveland Charge.
He’s expected to have two years of eligibility remaining.… pic.twitter.com/rviukINwUb
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) October 20, 2025
That’s right. A professional player is somehow coming back to college. That’s not exactly how that’s supposed to work. It’s actually the opposite.
However, through a loophole of all loopholes it was allowed. The thought process is murky and unclear, but then again so is mostly anything in college sports legalities these days. Before NIL, college athletes were required to maintain amateur status without salaries or contracts. However, NIL and revenue sharing blurred those lines, prompting a reversal.
Since most G-League players earn little to no significant income, the NCAA no longer classifies them as professionals or ineligible for college play. However, eligibility is limited to those within five years of high school graduation, and any player who entered the NBA Draft or signed an NBA contract risks losing that eligibility.
Some coaches like Michigan State’s Tom Izzo have already spoken on it and are adamantly opposed.
“To me, it’s ridiculous. To me it’s embarrassing,” said Izzo.
“To me, it’s ridiculous. To me, it’s embarrassing.”
Tom Izzo’s thoughts on Louisville signing a player with multiple years of G League experience.
Question via @chrissolari @wilxTV https://t.co/0ywBGQKouE pic.twitter.com/rLIOpeCjdF
— Ben Shockley (@BenShockley_) October 22, 2025
And he’s right.
I know basketball is big in the state of Kentucky, but who even thought about this being an option in the first place? College sports, especially between rivals, has been a bit of an arms race for a while now.
First, it was recruiting. Then came facility upgrades. Now, it’s NIL and contract promises. Kentucky reportedly spent $22 million on its 2025–26 roster, and in today’s game, the only thing worse than losing is falling behind the Joneses.
The main questions I have are simple.
First, are we still pretending the academic side of college matters for some student-athletes? And second, when does it stop? Maybe when LeBron James and Diego Pavia lead Duke to a title 10 years from now.
As the kids say, just send the asteroid already. Or at least some logic, reason and some semblance of actual rules.
