NBA player, former UCLA star Amari Bailey is reportedly eyeing a return to college
NBA player Amari Baileywho played one season in UCLA from 2022-23, he has hired an agent and a lawyer in an attempt to get the green light to return to college basketball, ESPN reported Friday.
“I would be a senior in college right now,” Bailey, 21, told ESPN about seeking NCAA eligibility. “I’m not trying to be 27 years old and play college athletics. There’s no nuance to guys who do that; it’s their path. But I went to play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?”
NCAA Senior Vice President of External Affairs Tim Buckley said that “the NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any player who has signed an NBA contract.”
Bailey, a second-round pick Charlotte Hornets in 2023 NBA draftappeared in 10 games his rookie season and has since played for the Hornets’ G League affiliate, Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
In his one season at UCLA, Bailey averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.5/38.9/69.8.
If Bailey were to return to college basketball, it would continue a recent trend of returning players who have left the collegiate scene, including James Nnaji and Carlo from Bedia. Nnaji played professionally overseas before being selected in the second round of the 2023 NBA draft. Detroit Pistonsbut never appeared in an NBA game. He joined Baylor Bears in December. Bediako played two seasons in Alabama (2021-22 and 2022-23) before turning pro, though he went undrafted. The former Crimson Tide big man played for G League affiliate teams San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets before returning to Alabama earlier this month.
2026-01-30 23:59:00
