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Former UCLA college basketball player Amari Bailey is trying to make history as the first player to play in the NBA and return to play college basketball.
Bailey, 21, is prepared to fight for his NCAA eligibility and join a college team after hiring an agent and a lawyer.
“Right now I’d be a senior in college,” Bailey told ESPN. “I’m not trying to be 27 years old playing college athletics. No shade to the guys that do; that’s their journey. But I went to go play professionally and learned a lot, went through a lot. So, like, why not me?”
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Charlotte Hornets guard Amari Bailey during warmups before the first quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Feb. 10, 2024. (Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports)
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 and the 2023 All-Pac-12 Tournament teams.
He declared for the NBA Draft after the season and was drafted 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 started to consider a return to college basketball in 2025 but has pondered a possible return to the NCAA after he was drafted in 2023, according to the report.
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UCLA Bruins guard Amari Bailey reacts during the second half against the Northwestern Wildcats at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., March 18, 2023. (Kyle Terada/USA Today Sports)
Bailey said he left UCLA with “a lot to prove left on the table” and that he made mistakes as an 18-year-old, 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 to the SEC All-Defensive Team in his second season.
After two seasons, he entered the NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining 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 did play for their G League affiliate. Over the next two seasons, he played for the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons’ G League affiliates.
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Charlotte Hornets guard Amari Bailey (10) dunks during the second half at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 16, 2023. (Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports)
Bediako tried to rejoin Alabama, arguing he had eligibility remaining, but he was denied by the school. After being denied by the school, Bediako sued the NCAA for denying his request and was granted a temporary restraining order that allows him to play for 10 days.
Bediako has since played two games for the Crimson Tide despite strong opposition from coaches.
NCAA President Charlie Baker said in December that any player who signed an NBA contract would not be granted collegiate eligibility.
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