Houston Rockets sign N'Faly Dante to two-way contract

Former Oregon center N’Faly Dante is starting off his NBA career on his own terms, as he has reportedly signed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets. Dante was denied an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA but will now begin his journey in the professional ranks.

“Undrafted Oregon center N’Faly Dante has agreed on a two-way deal with the Rockets, sources tell ESPN,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said via X.

Dante was highly effective for the Ducks across five seasons when injuries didn’t keep him off the court. In his first two seasons, Dante played in just 18 total games before appearing in 63 contests across the next two seasons. The most recent season was a mixed bag, health wise, as Dante played in 22 games and averaged 17 points and 9.2 rebounds a game.

Dante also recorded more than a block and a steal per game in his final college season.

Dante was also a top prospect in the 2019 signing class.

He played high school basketball at Sunrise Christian (Ks.) Academy, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 26 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

The draft was not necessarily Dante’s first choice

According to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, the NCAA denied the university’s petition for additional eligibility.

This is the second time that the college sports governing body has denied Dante a waiver to continue his collegiate career. The initial ‘no’ was on behalf of the Oregon center himself. The second one, on Thursday, June 13, was courtesy of the university’s petition for additional eligibility.

When the NCAA denied the first appeal, several prominent individuals in the college basketball world were up in arms about the decision. One of which was ESPN’s Jay Bilas who took to social media to blast the NCAA for denying Dante‘s initial petition for additional eligibility. In a brief statement, the college basketball expert laid out the groundwork for challenging the decision.

“The NCAA’s treatment of Oregon’s N’Faly Dante is simply outrageous,” Bilas said via X. “This young man is EVERYTHING the NCAA claims it wants in an athlete. Dante has been injured throughout his career, and has played two full seasons less than players like Armando Bacot, yet he’s denied an additional year due to injury, ending his career. Absurd. Dante is a model atvlete and person, wants to come back to play and advance his education, and has never asked his school for anything. When the NCAA says “athlete welfare,” it rings hollow. The NCAA needs to do the right thing…allow Dante his additional year. Immediately.”

Initially, Bilas challenged the NCAA decision, highlighting the differences between Dante’s petition call, which has been denied twice, and that of North Carolina Tar Heels star big man Armando Bacot, who was allowed additional eligibility.