Brad Brownell is as perplexed as the next person when it comes to rules surrounding eligibility for college basketball players.

While the NCAA has remained steadfast in saying players who have signed professional contracts with NBA or G-League teams are ineligible, the courts are pushing back. At this point, it only seems like a matter of time before a player who has actually seen time in the NBA returns to the collegiate level.

“I don’t know what the NCAA can do about it,” Brownell said dur the ACC Coaches Zoom Call on Monday. “It seems like their hands are tied because people just go around the rules. Now we just go have hearings with judges who are graduates of the school. Yeah, I don’t know.”

One of the most recent controversies surrounds Charles Bediako at Alabama. After being ruled ineligible by the NCAA, he sued. His case was heard by a judge who not only graduated from Alabama, but is also a booster of the school. Bediako is only temporarily eligible and the judge has since recused himself from the case.

“Bizarre is not the right word for me anymore,” Brownell added. “I don’t know what to expect. But I think it is hard because I have heard people from the NCAA say, “Yeah, every time we try and put a rule in and enforce things, then coaches want to go around it. Everybody is looking for ways to go around things.”

Then there is the story of Amari Bailey, who was a second-round pick of the Hornets and appeared in 10 games for Charlotte during the 2023-24 season. Bailey is now suing for another season of eligibility. If successful, he would be the first former NBA player to return to the college ranks.

It’s just another example of the chaotic atmosphere surrounding college sports in today’s era, and while Brownell certainly admits he doesn’t have all of the answers, he fully believes it’s the high school kids that are bring hurt.

“I do think we have lost control here in terms of college sports,” Brownell said. “Whether it is guys that have played in the G-League — obviously, now we have a guy who has played in an NBA game and is trying to come back. There has got to be an age limit in my opinion.

“Some of the international kids coming over at 21 or 22 years old and being deemed freshmen, and played professionally overseas for a couple of years, that just seems crazy to me. I do think there has to be some protection for the 18-19 year old kids who are trying to go to college. In terms of whay you can do to get there, I really don’t know. I don’t think many people do, beyond getting Congress involved, which seems very unlikely.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright