Baylor just got bigger, longer, and bolder in the middle of the season. Head coach Scott Drew announced a significant roster move for the 2025-26 campaign: the Bears are adding center James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA Draft pick who went 31st overall. At 7-foot with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Nnaji gives Baylor an instant dose of size, length, and pro polish right when Big 12 play tightens.

The timing matters. Baylor also confirmed that transfer forward Juslin Bodo Bodo will remain out for the rest of the season. He had been a force on the glass, averaging a team-best 8.4 rebounds per game, a mark that ranked 47th nationally. The mix of news tells a clear story: the Bears needed frontcourt help now, and they just found it in a young big who has been learning the game at the highest levels overseas.

Why this midseason move matters for Baylor basketball

The Big 12 is a grind built on size, speed, and toughness. Baylor’s identity under Drew blends skill and spacing with rim protection and defensive versatility. Losing Bodo Bodo’s rebounding hurts. He was the 2025 Big South Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season at High Point, helping that team to 29 wins and both a regular-season title and a conference-tournament title before transferring in. Those are winning habits Baylor values.

Enter Nnaji. He fills a need that shows up on every possession: protecting the rim, sealing space in the paint, setting firm screens, and finishing lobs. He is a long and mobile 7-footer who has practiced and played within pro systems. That gives Baylor a different tool in late-clock defense and in simple actions like the pick-and-roll.

“If Nnaji just blocks shots and runs, Baylor’s ceiling jumps a tier.”

Who is James Nnaji? NBA Draft pick with EuroLeague seasoning

Nnaji hails from Makurdi, Nigeria, and spent the last four seasons in the EuroLeague with FC Barcelona. That’s a serious proving ground. In 2023, he was selected 31st overall in the NBA Draft, first by the Detroit Pistons and then traded to the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks. Before that, ESPN ranked him the No. 24 prospect in its Top 100 class.

His measurements jump off the page. At 7′ 0″ with a 7′ 5″ wingspan, he can change shots without leaving the floor. On offense, he should thrive in simple, clean roles: set a screen, roll hard, catch, and finish. On defense, his length offers Baylor a back-line anchor who can help on drives, contest midrange looks, and erase mistakes.

How Nnaji fits Scott Drew’s system

Drew’s teams play with pace and space. Guards attack, shooters stretch, and bigs do the heavy lifting in the paint. Nnaji fits that template. He does not need the ball to be effective. He helps others by making strong contact on screens, sprinting to the rim, and drawing extra bodies around the basket.

On the other end, he can sit in drop coverage, challenge floaters, or switch when needed. That versatility is the whole point of adding a player like Nnaji in December: he widens the tactical menu for the staff and gives Baylor more answers in March-type games.

• Rim protection without fouling
• Vertical spacing for lobs
• Extra possessions from tips and taps
• Simple, high-value offense off roll-and-dive actions

“Bodo’s rebounding leaves a hole—can James own the paint from day one?”

Drew’s plan: step-by-step acclimation, not shortcuts

The coaching staff is not rushing this. As Drew put it: “James is a really talented young player with a ton of potential, and we’re excited to welcome him to the Baylor Family. Any time you add someone to the roster midseason, it’s going to be a process to get them acclimated and up to speed, but we know James will do everything he can to make it a seamless transition. Our immediate focus is on helping him take things step by step to ensure it’s best for both him and the team when he’s able to take the court.”

That message matters. Midseason additions can be tricky. Timing, roles, and trust must be built day by day. The Bears will want Nnaji comfortable with the playbook and with teammates’ tendencies before he logs major minutes.

The Bodo Bodo ripple effect: rebounding and defense

Bodo Bodo’s absence changes Baylor’s rotation and its edge on the glass. At 8.4 rebounds per game, he set the tone on the boards and helped end possessions. Without him, the Bears need a collective approach: box out by committee, gang rebound, and get the first hit on contact. Nnaji’s frame and reach can help here right away, even in short bursts.

Remember, Bodo was a two-time Big South Defensive Player of the Year at High Point. That’s rare air. He is a worker who impacts the game in simple, tough ways. Baylor will miss that, but the staff’s move to bring in Nnaji shows a clear plan to protect the paint and keep the defense sturdy.

“EuroLeague habits plus Drew’s system? That’s a scary March mix.”

What success looks like for Nnaji and the Bears

Success does not need to be flashy. It can be three quick things every night: run the floor, set great screens, own the rim. If Nnaji gives Baylor clean finishes and steady defense, even in a limited role at first, the ripple effect will help everyone around him.

As he grows more comfortable, the staff can explore more coverages, more two-man actions, and more lineups with added length. The Big 12 rewards teams that protect the paint and secure the glass. Nnaji’s profile fits that need exactly.

Big picture: Baylor bets on size, smarts, and timing

The headline is simple: Baylor found a way to add a pro-level big man in the thick of the season. Nnaji’s resume—EuroLeague experience, NBA Draft pedigree, top-24 recruiting grade—speaks to his upside. With Bodo Bodo sidelined, the Bears chose to act, not wait.

Their challenge now is chemistry. But with Drew’s patient approach and Nnaji’s tools, this can be the kind of in-season move that changes how a team looks in February and March. It strengthens Baylor’s interior, raises the defensive ceiling, and gives opponents more to think about at the rim.

Final word

This is a smart, timely play by a program that expects to compete at the top of the Big 12. Nnaji’s size and experience check real boxes, and the staff’s step-by-step plan should keep the transition smooth. If the fit comes together as designed, Baylor just added a piece that can swing close games and shape a postseason path.