Amari Bailey, an NBA player who spent the 2022-2023 season at UCLA, has engaged an agent and lawyer to seek permission to return to college basketball, according to ESPN’s report on Friday. At 21 years old, Bailey acknowledged that he would be a senior now and emphasized that he has no interest in playing college sports at an older age. He said, “I went professional to learn and grow, so why couldn’t I come back? This isn’t a publicity stunt—I’m serious about improving my skills, changing how people see me, and proving that I can win.”
However, Tim Buckley, the NCAA’s senior vice president for external affairs, stated, “The NCAA does not and will not grant eligibility to players who have signed NBA contracts.”
Bailey was a second-round pick by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft. In his rookie season, he played in 10 games and later suited up for the Hornets’ G League affiliates as well as those of the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
During his single college campaign at UCLA, Bailey averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 49.5% from the field, 38.9% from beyond the arc, and 69.8% from the free-throw line.
His potential comeback to college hoops would align with a growing number of players returning after professional stints, like James Nnaji and Charles Bediako. Nnaji, who played overseas before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2023 but never appeared in an NBA game, joined Baylor mid-season. Bediako played two years at Alabama before turning pro, went undrafted, played for G League teams affiliated with the Spurs and Nuggets, and then returned to Alabama recently.
Fan Take:
This move by Amari Bailey highlights a shifting landscape where career paths between college and professional basketball are becoming more fluid. For fans, it opens up new storylines and raises questions about the future of NCAA eligibility rules and the development routes players choose.
