The barrage of former NBA stars coming back to play College Basketball continues. While 2025 became notorious for college programs recruiting from the NBA G League, the Charles Bediako case has piqued the interest of many other stars. The latest in line is Amari Bailey.
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The former UCLA star was a second-round draft pick in 2023 by the Charlotte Hornets and is currently a free agent. He had previously been on a two-way contract, allowing him to play in the NBA and the G League. Now, Bailey could explore legal options to return to college basketball.
Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston chimed in on the debate of how healthy this is for College Basketball. Speaking on their Post Moves podcast, the two highlighted the absurdity of the situation in Bailey’s case, with the guard already having played games in the NBA.
Boston said, “That’s just crazy. You have played in the NBA, and you’ve played in the G League for two years. There’s no way you can go back and hoop.”
“Where does it stop” is my question. I’m not hating the player, I’m hating the game!” 😯
Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston react to former Charlotte Hornets guard Amari Bailey’s potential return to college and what it could mean for the future of the NCAA. pic.twitter.com/w3E7lIBOPi
— Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston (@PostMovesShow) February 8, 2026
Bailey actually played 10 games for the Charlotte Hornets in his rookie year, accumulating 65 minutes of on-court action in the NBA. The NCAA has already clarified that Bailey will be rendered ineligible to return to College Basketball because of his NBA contract and his appearance in the NBA.
But if Bediako receives a favorable verdict in the court hearing about his eligibility, this could open doors for Bailey to challenge the NCAA’s stance through legal routes. In fact, Bailey has already reportedly scheduled a visit to Grand Canyon University as he looks into the possibility of playing College Basketball again.
The former UCLA standout will become the first player with actual games in the NBA to return and play College Basketball, if it ends up happening somehow.
Aliyah Boston throws in a ridiculous WNBA possibility amid CBA standstill
The Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston did not mince her words while explaining the absurdity of the situation where players who have been drafted are returning to play College Basketball.
She likened the situation to WNBA stars returning to college basketball as well. The current disagreement over CBA terms looks like it will continue further after the latest WNBA proposal did not include any updated suggestions on revenue sharing and salary cap. This could put the entire 2026 season in jeopardy, with delays looking likely. There are fears of a lockout as well, which keeps growing as the offseason proceedings have not even begun because of the moratorium in place.
Aliyah Boston highlighted how she could technically go back to play College Basketball as she has a year of eligibility left because of the canceled COVID season. Candace chimed in, stating that she also has a year of eligibility left at Tennessee.
WNBA stars who have one or more years of NCAA eligibility left could look into returning to play College Basketball if the CBA doesn’t get signed.
While this does sound awkward, if players continue to explore such options, the WNBA stars could look at a year of College Basketball as a temporary solution while the governing body and the players’ union hash out the CBA.
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