Five-Star Toibu Lawal Recruit Shocks College Basketball World: Turns Down $6.5 Million NIL Deal, Decommits from Virginia Tech, Chooses Indiana Pacers Over Duke and Texas
In a move that has stunned the college basketball world and sent ripples through the NCAA and professional circles alike, five-star recruit Toibu Lawal has turned down a reported $6.5 million in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals, decommitted from the Virginia Tech Hokies, and announced he will be signing directly with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.
Lawal, a 6-foot-11 power forward from Atlanta with elite rim protection, shooting range, and basketball IQ, was widely considered one of the top three prospects in the class of 2025. His original commitment to Virginia Tech last fall was already seen as a massive win for the Hokies—a smaller basketball program landing a top-tier talent. But on Tuesday morning, Lawal dropped a bombshell.
“After deep reflection, conversations with my family, and prayer, I’ve decided to take a different path,” Lawal said in a video posted to social media. “I’m officially decommitting from Virginia Tech and forgoing college basketball. I will be signing with the Indiana Pacers as I pursue my NBA dream now—not later.”
According to sources close to Lawal’s camp, he turned down substantial NIL offers totaling over $6.5 million, including deals from major brands, tech startups, and even an exclusive media docuseries that would have followed his college career. Powerhouses like Duke and Texas made last-minute pushes, reportedly offering even more lucrative NIL opportunities, but Lawal stood firm in his decision to bypass the NCAA altogether.
This makes Lawal the first U.S.-based five-star high school basketball recruit to go directly from high school to an NBA team under the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement rules, which allow teams to sign “Select Development Contracts” with exceptional players who meet certain criteria. While the NBA officially still requires players to be one year removed from high school, Lawal’s case is being handled as part of a special development pipeline—similar to G-League Ignite, but with direct integration into an NBA franchise.
The Indiana Pacers, who have been quietly building one of the league’s most exciting young cores around Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin, have reportedly been scouting Lawal for over a year. They have signed Lawal to a unique two-year developmental contract reportedly worth $4.1 million, plus incentives tied to training camp performance, community engagement, and G-League affiliate appearances. Pacers GM Chad Buchanan called Lawal “a generational athlete with professional maturity well beyond his years.”
“Toibu’s decision is brave, calculated, and forward-thinking,” Buchanan said at a press conference Tuesday. “We’re not just adding a player—we’re adding a future franchise piece.”
Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young expressed both disappointment and support. “We were blessed to have Toibu choose us, and we respect his choice,” said Young. “The kid’s a competitor, and he’s chasing his dream. I hope he gets everything he’s worked for.”
The ramifications for college basketball are immense. While NIL was supposed to level the playing field and keep elite talent in the NCAA system, Lawal’s move signals a possible shift—one where even eight-figure NIL deals might not be enough to sway a player who sees more value in early pro development. His decision raises critical questions: Is the NCAA still the premier path to the NBA? Will more franchises follow Indiana’s lead and start identifying prospects before college?
Lawal’s decommitment also highlights the precarious nature of college recruiting in the NIL era. Programs spend months building relationships with elite recruits, only to see them swayed by last-minute financial or professional opportunities. The Hokies now face the task of replacing their marquee recruit late in the cycle—an increasingly common reality in this volatile new landscape.
Meanwhile, fans in Indiana are buzzing with excitement. Lawal is expected to split his time between the Pacers’ G-League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and participate in team training camps. He’ll be eligible for NBA play after his 18th birthday in October and is expected to make his professional debut during the NBA In-Season Tournament.
“Toibu is fearless,” said his high school coach, Darnell Withers. “He’s not chasing the bag. He’s chasing greatness.”
In an age where NIL money is reshaping the college game, Toibu Lawal has chosen a different path—one not paved with maximum dollars, but with maximum ambition. Only time will tell whether his gamble will pay off. But for now, Lawal has made one thing clear: he’s not waiting to be great. He’s stepping into it now.
