Clippers draftee Ngoy opts for Auburn over NBA
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- Narcisse Ngoy, the 57th pick in this week's NBA draft by the LA Clippers, said Thursday he still plans to play at Auburn for the 2026-27 season after committing to the Tigers in March.
- The LA Clippers don't intend to lure Ngoy from Auburn and will treat him as a draft-and-stash player, retaining his rights after he finishes at Auburn, sources told ESPN.
- Ngoy can maintain college eligibility despite being drafted because he turns 22 this summer, making him automatically eligible for the NBA draft rather than a voluntary entrant.
- Germany-born Jack Kayil, picked 39th by the New York Knicks, is not eligible to play college basketball because he is 20 and voluntarily entered the NBA draft.
- If Ngoy plays at Auburn, he would be the first player in the modern era to opt for college immediately after being drafted; the draft-and-stash practice is usually reserved for international players kept overseas.
- Rising college basketball salaries have driven more international players to U.S. colleges and made the college draft-and-stash model more viable, according to ESPN reporting.
Why it matters: The Clippers hold Ngoy's NBA rights at no development cost while Auburn pays to develop him, and the broader trend of rising college pay means more international prospects may route through U.S. college programs rather than overseas leagues, effectively extending the traditional college-to-NBA pipeline.
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