Cooked myself on Hard In The Paint, but if you need something to Lead Off consider this:

- LSU should fire Brian Kelly.

- VJ Edgecombe exploded for 34 points in his Sixers’ debut.

- Lebron doesn’t want to be a Laker anymore.

- The NFL will add a game in Riyadh by 2027.

- The Blue Jays swing and miss at the least amount of pitches while the Dodgers’ pitchers generate the most swing and miss.

Some of these are facts.

You missed this story because it isn’t exactly March Madness, but weird things are brewing in College Hoops. This week, the NCAA approved incoming Louisville recruit London Johnson for 2 college seasons of eligibility. Why is this news? Johnson spent the last 3 seasons playing in the NBA’s G-League. You read that right. Another G-League to College recruit was also approved this week with Thierry Darlan committing to Santa Clara. Let’s explore both situations plus the broader ramifications. Always broader ramificache.

The NCAA has increasingly allowed overseas players with professional experience the opportunity to play college ball. High school amateur athletics don’t exist in the same way overseas as it does in the US, and the thinking goes that these young men deserved a shot at college even if there amateurism is blurry. Darlan fits that bill. He grew up in the Central African Republic, trained at the NBA African Academy and then spent two years a G-Leaguer. Is that massively different than spending time at a low-level European club? The NCAA believes “no”.

Johnson doesn’t have the same story. Johnson grew up in Georgia, very clearly went to high school in the States, and then spurned college to go straight to the G-League. After washing out (and making a couple hundred thousand dollars), Johnson will have the opportunity to play out his amateur eligibility and earn significantly more. I can chop this up and which way, but Johnson very clearly was a professional basketball player employed by an NBA team. Sure, he didn’t see action in any NBA games, but his three games with the Maine Celtics came with a check cut from Boston.

If you have more questions than answers, welcome to the club. I’ll try to keep it professional because I’m not passing judgement on Johnson and I don’t have any obvious solutions. My list of questions start like this:

- What the fuck are we doing here?

There’s more, but that needed to be said. NCAA eligibility is some weird combination of age and years removed from high school. We don’t have to worry about retired NBA Vets sneaky back to campus. But I can’t see why a flamed-out first rounder who’s 22 or 23 wouldn’t try to squeeze one more big check out of Duke. What’s the difference between him and Johnson? More questions:

- It’s believed the NCAA approved Johnson for fear of being sued. In that case, they’d have to permanently establish eligibility rules in court and they’ve kicked that can down the road. But what precedent are they setting now? You can clearly be a professional basketball player and return to college.

- What does that make the NCAA? Is a professional league? Players are compensated. They’re paid directly by schools. Schools are selling media revenues to private equity investors. What part of the NCAA isn’t professional right now? Does that mean players should freely move between the NBA and NCAA?

I’m not answering these questions tonight but my phone line is always open. Here’s what I want to convey: there’s a solution that works for all parties in here somewhere. The schools can win. The players can win. How do I know? The schools still matter (and have all the cash). Until four paragraphs ago, not many of you knew about the Celtic’s G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics (formerly Red Claws, why’d they ever get rid of that?). The Maine Celtics have a smaller operating budget than Louisville basketball. I can’t say why players need scholarships or need to attend class, but I do know that the in-place infrastructure of college hoops can outcompete whatever the NBA has tried to spin up in the G-League. The fan attention and dollars committed for 64 teams each year in the NCAA far outweighs any other minor league. As I wrap this up, maybe Johnson isn’t blazing a trail, but closing one. Why be a fringe G-Leaguer when you can stay in school? Why leave for the draft if you’re not guaranteed more than you would by staying? Hmm. Back to the questions. Have a chew on this. Look up if you have any leftover eligibility. And then get back to me with answers.