Signing professional players has upset college coaches across the country. But BYU head coach Kevin Young says it aligns with college basketball’s new rules.
(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kevin Young gives direction during the game between the BYU Cougars and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Delta Center on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
BYU head coach Kevin Young is taking a player from his old stomping grounds to add to his roster.
The Cougars landed a commitment from Abdullah Ahmed of the NBA G League for their 2026 team, Rivals.com reported Tuesday. The 6-foot-10 center spent the last two seasons playing for the New York Knicks’ affiliate in Westchester.
The idea of bringing in pro players has been controversial across college basketball.
Even as the NCAA deemed Ahmed eligible, coaches like Kansas’ Bill Self have been critical of allowing pro players to come to the college ranks.
“My personal opinion is I have no idea what we are doing,” Self told The Kansas City Star. “What are we doing? So we’re going to call NBA teams and G League teams to find out who will potentially be available, and that’s who we’re going to recruit now, as opposed to high school kids or even portal kids?”
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was also upset by allowing some G League players to play in college. Louisville also brought in a G League player this year.
“Kids aren’t the problem, we’re the problem. 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,” Izzo said. “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.”
Young defended the rule at Big 12 media days, saying G League players are no different than bringing in European basketball players who have played in pro organizations.
BYU has benefitted from that rule since Young arrived. Star point guard Egor Demin played for Real Madrid’s youth teams before coming to Provo and Mihailo Boskovic played professionally in Serbia.
Both of their eligibility was in question before last season, but they were ultimately cleared by the NCAA.
“The G League is no different than the Euro League,” Young said. “It’s not the NBA. It’s just not. Now if you are on a two-way [contract], an NBA contract, then you are an NBA player. If you are not, what is the difference? A lot of things that make sense don’t happen. But for me, this actually does make sense.”
Young said as long as the European players are allowed to play in college, the G League players should, too.
“If you want to strip away both [European and G League], great. But that is kind of how I see it,” he said.
