Former Hornets Player Amari Bailey Seeks College Eligibility

Bailey plans to work with an agent and lawyer to try to play another year in college.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 9:39pm

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Amari Bailey, a former second-round draft pick of the Charlotte Hornets who spent time in the NBA's G League, has announced plans to try to regain his college eligibility and play another year of NCAA basketball. Bailey, who played for UCLA in 2022-23, believes he should be allowed to return to college despite having already turned professional.

Why it matters

Bailey's case could challenge the NCAA's rules around player eligibility, which generally prohibit players from returning to college after signing professional contracts. This comes on the heels of other recent cases, like that of Charles Bediako at Alabama, where courts have ordered the NCAA to reinstate players who had signed pro deals.

The details

Bailey, 21, played for UCLA last season, averaging 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. He was then selected by the Hornets in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft and played 10 games for the team, averaging 2.3 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists. He has since spent time in the G League. Bailey believes he should be allowed to return to college since he would technically be a senior this year, rather than playing professionally at an older age.

  • Bailey played for UCLA during the 2022-23 season.
  • Bailey was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft.
  • Bailey played 10 games for the Hornets during the 2023-24 season.

The players

Amari Bailey

A 21-year-old former NBA player who is seeking to regain his college eligibility in order to play another year of NCAA basketball.

Tim Buckley

The NCAA's senior vice president of external affairs, who tweeted that the NCAA will not grant eligibility to players who have signed NBA contracts.

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What they’re saying

“Right now I'd be a senior in college. 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?”

— Amari Bailey

“The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any players who have signed an NBA contract. Congress can strengthen NCAA rules so professional athletes cannot sue their way back to competing against college students.”

— Tim Buckley, NCAA Senior Vice President of External Affairs

What’s next

The NCAA will likely have to defend its eligibility rules in court if Bailey pursues his case to play another year of college basketball.

The takeaway

Amari Bailey's case highlights the ongoing tension between the NCAA's amateurism model and the reality that many elite players now turn professional before exhausting their college eligibility. His attempt to regain that eligibility could lead to further challenges to the NCAA's rules.