Tom Izzo Rips London Johnson 'Ridiculous' Louisville Commitment After G League Stint

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo called it "ridiculous" and "embarrassing" that guard London Johnson committed to Louisville after having played professionally in the NBA G League.

Johnson is reportedly on his way to the Cardinals and could have two years of college eligibility.

Izzo told reporters Tuesday he was frustrated at the NCAA opening the door for pro players, under certain circumstances, to move down to the college level. He also criticized the organization for not reaching out to coaches and administrators to discuss the rule:

UConn men's coach Dan Hurley and Kansas' Bill Self responded to Izzo's remarks:

Johnson was the No. 46 overall player in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2022 class. Rather than taking the traditional pathway to the NBA, he signed with the G League Ignite in October 2022.

The NBA closed the doors on the Ignite after the 2023-24 season, and Johnson was one of two Ignite players selected in the first round of the 2024 G League draft.

In 21 games with the Maine Celtics and Cleveland Charge, the 21-year-old averaged 3.1 points on 40 percent shooting and 1.7 assists.

Playing at Louisville should allow Johnson to boost his NBA stock.

His decision comes a month after the NCAA deemed Thierry Darlan, another former Ignite player, eligible to play at Santa Clara. Darlan was in the same position, having suited up for the Delaware Blue Coats and Rip City Remix last year.

This is far from the first time a college program signed a player with pro experience. We're more than a decade removed from Enes Kanter joining Kentucky after playing for Fenerbahçe, though he was ruled permanently ineligible.

With the lines getting even more blurred thanks to NIL legislation, eligibility standards were bound to get stretched further.

Izzo has been consistent in his criticism of college sports' evolution, particularly with regard to the transfer portal.

Some might find his recent comments a bit rich when Michigan State has been linked with Croatian forward Ivan Bogdanovic, who has played for SC Derby in Montenegro's top division.