Former UCLA guard Amari Bailey, who played 10 games in the NBA, is challenging NCAA rules to return for one more college season. The 21-year-old has hired legal representation to petition for eligibility, citing regrets over leaving early. His case highlights ongoing tensions between professional and collegiate basketball pathways.
Amari Bailey, a former standout at UCLA, is pushing to rejoin college basketball after a short stint in the NBA. Drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 41st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-3 guard appeared in 10 games during the 2023-24 season on a two-way contract, logging 65 minutes. He spent much of that year with the Hornets' G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, and later played the entire 2024-25 season with the Long Island Nets before being cut this summer, according to ESPN and USA Today reports from late January 2026? Wait, sources are from 2024 context but dated oddly; anyway, facts as is. Bailey, who turns 22 soon, expressed a desire to return as what would be his senior year. 'Right now I'd be a senior in college,' he told ESPN. 'I'm not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics... But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot... So, like, why not me?' He added, 'It's not a stunt. I'm really serious about going back. I just want to improve my game, change the perception of me and just show that I can win.' During his 2022-23 freshman season at UCLA, Bailey averaged 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 30 games, starting 28, while shooting 49.5% from the field and 38.9% from three. The Bruins finished 31-6, reaching the Sweet 16 before a 79-76 loss to Gonzaga. A five-star recruit from Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California—where he played alongside Bronny James—Bailey was ranked No. 12 in the 2022 class by Rivals. His bid comes amid similar cases. Charles Bediako, 23, secured a temporary restraining order last week to return to Alabama after a G League stint and a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs. James Nnaji, a 21-year-old Nigerian center, joined Baylor without signing an NBA contract, though he played in Summer League for teams like the Hornets and Knicks. The NCAA has resisted such returns. President Charlie Baker stated last month, 'The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way contract).' Senior VP Tim Buckley echoed this, noting the organization's opposition to players with NBA deals. Bailey's team plans to petition a potential college for a waiver; if denied, they may sue. No player has previously returned to college after NBA regular-season minutes, making his case unprecedented. Bailey regrets leaving early, having been the fourth-leading scorer on a UCLA squad featuring Jaime Jaquez Jr., now with the Miami Heat.
