Former NBA player and former UCLA star’s eyes return to college basketball amid NCAA scrutiny: ‘Why not me?’

Former UCLA college basketball player Amari Bailey is trying to make history as the first player to play in the NBA and return to college basketball.

Bailey, 21, is prepared to fight for his NCAA eligibility and join a college team after hiring an agent and attorney.

“Right now I would be a senior in college,” Bailey told ESPN. “I’m not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. There’s no shade for the guys who do it; that’s their journey. But I went to play professionally and I learned a lot, I went through a lot. So why not me?”

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Bailey spent one season with the Bruins in 2022-23 and averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30 games. He was named to the 2022-23 Pac-12 All-Freshman Tournament and 2023 All-Pac-12 Tournament teams.

He declared for the NBA Draft after the season and was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Bailey appeared in 10 games for the Hornets in the 2023–24 season, averaging 2.3 points per game.

Bailey was then cut and spent the last two seasons in the G League. Bailey began considering a return to college basketball in 2025, but considered a possible return to the NCAA after being drafted in 2023, according to the report.

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Bailey said he left UCLA with “a lot to prove on the table” and that he made mistakes when he was 18, according to ESPN.

The Alabama men’s basketball team recently added former standout Charles Bediako to the roster after he declared for the NBA Draft in 2023. Bediako played at Alabama for two seasons and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in his first season and the SEC All-Defensive team in his second season.

After two seasons, he entered the NBA Draft, giving up the rest of his eligibility. He went undrafted and signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. The 23-year-old never played in the NBA, but he did play for its G League affiliate. Over the next two seasons, he played for the G League affiliates of the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons.

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Bediako attempted to rejoin Alabama, arguing that he still had eligibility, but the school denied him. After being denied by the school, Bediako sued the NCAA for denying his request and was granted a temporary restraining order allowing him to play for 10 days.

Since then, Bediako has played two games for the Crimson Tide despite strong opposition from the coaches.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said in December that any player who signed an NBA contract would not be granted college eligibility.

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