Can Amari Bailey Actually Return to College? Latest on Former NBA Draft Pick’s Historic Pursuit

Former Charlotte Hornets guard and UCLA standout Amari Bailey is attempting to return to the college level after appearing in NBA games, according to ESPN’s Dan Murphy.

“Right now I’d be a senior in college,” Bailey told Murphy. “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?”

The 21-year-old has hired an agent as well as a lawyer to fight for his NCAA eligibility and potentially play one more season in college.

Bailey previously played for the Bruins during the 2022-23 season before entering the 2023 NBA draft.

He was selected by the Hornets in the second round, as they added him with the No. 41 overall pick. Bailey appeared in 10 regular-season contests with Charlotte on a two-way contract, averaging 2.3 points in 6.5 minutes per game.

He went on to spend two seasons in the NBA G League with the Long Island Nets, Greensboro Swarm and Iowa Wolves. Bailey was eventually cut from the G League during the 2025 offseason.

Eligibility shifts have been an early theme of the 2025-26 college basketball season, as Alabama center Charles Bediako became the first player to sign an NBA contract and return to the collegiate level earlier this year.

Bediako also signed a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs before returning to college, but didn’t appear in any regular-season games. His initial eligibility request was denied by the NCAA, but he sued the NCAA to gain immediate reinstatement and was able to return to the team after he was granted a temporary restraining order.

While the difference between the two players is the lack of regular-season action, Bailey told Murphy that playing a few minutes in a handful of NBA games late in his rookie season wasn’t a good reason to treat him differently than other players.

James Nnaji, who was selected 10 picks earlier than Bailey in the 2023 draft, was previously able to enroll at Baylor after he didn’t appear in an NBA matchup and played internationally instead.

Now, Bailey will attempt to become the next former professional player to return to college.