A former five-star prep prospect and ex-G League player is set to make an official recruiting visit to an HBCU.
Alabama A&M is set to host professional prospect Kyree Walker today, according to On3 Sports.
Walker, a 6-foot-6 forward, has spent the past several years playing professionally after taking a nontraditional path following his high school career. The 25-year-old most recently visited Maryland in February as he explores potential collegiate opportunities.
A native of California, Walker first gained national attention as a freshman at Moreau Catholic, where he was named MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year. He later became a five-star recruit and initially committed to Arizona State in 2017, then reopened his recruitment the following year.
After graduating from Hillcrest Prep in Arizona in 2020, Walker chose to forgo college basketball and instead trained for the NBA Draft with Chameleon BX, a California-based development program.
G League to NCAA pipeline criticized
Walker went undrafted in 2021 but earned an opportunity with the Washington Wizards’ NBA Summer League team and later joined their NBA G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. He has since continued his professional career overseas, with stops in Greece, Canada, and Mongolia.
Big-time Power Five coaches have been openly critical of the new era, blasting the NCAA for what they see as an abrupt reversal of its eligibility rules. Prominent voices such as Tom Izzo, Matt Painter, and Rick Pitino have all voiced frustration that players who were once considered professionals, at least in the United States, are now eligible to compete in college basketball.
View this post on Instagram
NCAA rules state that basketball players must be amateurs to compete in sports. Basketball players who are five years or less removed from high school or have not entered the NBA Draft can vouch for collegiate eligibility.
Why ex-pros can play in college
In a 2025 NCAA memo, the collegiate governing body explained eligibility rules around players entering college sports after once competing professionally.
“More schools are recruiting and enrolling individuals who have competed professionally – including many with experience in international and domestic leagues who may find college sports more appealing given the financial benefits now available,” the statement reads. “NCAA rules do allow players who competed professionally prior to collegiate enrollment to retain eligibility for college sports, though in some cases, players may lose seasons of eligibility due to delayed enrollment.”
“Each player’s situation is unique, and these issues arise at a time when NCAA eligibility rules are facing repeated lawsuits with judges enjoining some of these rules. In making its eligibility decisions, the NCAA endeavors to treat prospective student-athletes, whether domestic or international, as consistently as possible given the broad range of backgrounds that can be presented.”
“These cases are likely to continue, and this uncertainty underscores the importance of our collaboration with Congress to resolve conflicting judicial decisions that serve to deprive high school athletes of the ability to compete and create unfair competitive environments for current college athletes.”
“Schools seeking information about the eligibility of their recruits should continue coordinating with the NCAA Eligibility Center.”
If Walker commits to Alabama A&M or any other school, he would join the likes of James Nnaji, Charles Bediako, London Johnson, and Thierry Darlan, who spent time in the G League before returning to college.
