Former NBA player and ex-UCLA star eyes return to college basketball amid NCAA scrutiny: 'Why not me?'

Former UCLA assemblage hoops subordinate Amari Bailey is trying to marque past arsenic the archetypal hoops subordinate to ever play successful the NBA and past instrumentality to play assemblage basketball.

Bailey, 21, is prepared to combat for his NCAA eligibility and articulation a assemblage squad aft hiring an cause and a lawyer.

"Right present I'd beryllium a elder successful college," Bailey told ESPN. "I'm not trying to beryllium 27 years aged playing assemblage athletics. No shadiness to the guys that do; that's their journey. But I went to spell play professionally and learned a lot, went done a lot. So, like, wherefore not me?"

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Charlotte Hornets defender Amari Bailey (10) during warmups earlier the archetypal 4th against the Memphis Grizzlies astatine Spectrum Center successful Charlotte, North Carolina, connected Feb. 10, 2024. (Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports)

Bailey spent 1 play with the Bruins successful 2022-23, and averaged 11.2 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists successful 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 aft the play and was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets successful the 2nd circular of the 2023 NBA Draft. Bailey appeared successful 10 games for the Hornets successful the 2023-24 season, averaging 2.3 points per game.

Bailey was past chopped and spent the past 2 seasons successful the G League. Bailey started to earnestly see a instrumentality to assemblage hoops successful 2025, but has pondered a imaginable instrumentality to the NCAA aft helium was drafted successful 2023, according to the report.

PGA TOUR STAR JUSTIN THOMAS RIPS NCAA FOR CURRENT STATE OF COLLEGE SPORTS

UCLA Bruins defender Amari Bailey (5) reacts during the 2nd fractional against the Northwestern Wildcats astatine Golden 1 Center successful Sacramento, California, connected March 18, 2023. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)

Bailey said helium near UCLA with "a batch to beryllium near connected the table" and that helium made mistakes arsenic an 18-year-old, according to ESPN.

The Alabama men’s hoops squad precocious added erstwhile standout Charles Bediako to the roster aft helium declared for the NBA Draft in 2023. Bediako played astatine Alabama for 2 seasons, and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team successful his archetypal play and to the SEC All-Defensive Team successful his 2nd season.

After 2 seasons, helium entered the NBA Draft, forgoing his remaining eligibility. He went undrafted and signed a two-way declaration with the San Antonio Spurs. The 23-year-old never played successful the NBA but did play for their G League affiliate. Over the adjacent 2 seasons, helium played for the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons’ G League affiliates.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Charlotte Hornets defender Amari Bailey (10) dunks past Philadelphia 76ers defender Furkan Korkmaz (30) during the 2nd fractional astatine Spectrum Center successful Charlotte, North Carolina, connected Dec. 16, 2023. (Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports)

Bediako tried to rejoin Alabama, citing that helium had eligibility remaining, but was denied by the school. After being denied by the school, Bediako sued the NCAA for denying his petition but was granted a impermanent restraining bid that allows him to play for 10 days.

Bediako has since played 2 games for the Crimson Tide, contempt beardown absorption from coaches.

NCAA President Charlie Baker said successful December that immoderate subordinate who signed an NBA declaration would not beryllium granted collegiate eligibility.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.