Former UCLA basketball player Amari Bailey is making a bid to return to college basketball after a brief stint in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, where he participated in ten games following his second-round draft selection in 2023. In a strategic move, Bailey has enlisted the services of an agent and a lawyer to challenge the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility.
His situation mirrors that of Charles Bediako, who recently rejoined the Alabama basketball team after exploring his options in the 2023 NBA draft. Bediako’s successful legal action resulted in a temporary restraining order against the NCAA, setting a precedent that could potentially benefit Bailey and others in similar situations.
Meanwhile, the NFL is closely watching these developments within college sports, as Commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the ongoing changes in eligibility rules. The NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement includes provisions allowing drafted players to return to college, but teams maintain the rights to these players, preventing them from re-entering the draft for the following season.
Goodell expressed confidence in the NFL’s eligibility rule, emphasizing its role in allowing young athletes to gain valuable education and maturity. He believes these regulations not only help in personal development but also contribute to the cultivation of sports stars within the college realm.
The NFL mandates that players must be out of high school for three years before they can declare for the draft, and Goodell affirmed the league’s commitment to uphold this rule. He referenced former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett’s high-profile 2003 lawsuit, where Clarett sought the ability to declare for the draft after just one college season, a case that ultimately upheld the NFL’s requirements.
As the landscape of college sports continues to evolve, particularly with the advent of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, athletes are increasingly motivated to remain in college, seeking the advantages these changes offer. Goodell noted that while the NFL prefers to remain within its jurisdiction, the league is open to contributing to solutions pertaining to these shifts if invited.
The dialogue surrounding eligibility in both college and professional sports reflects a broader conversation about supporting young athletes not just in their athletic aspirations but also in their educational journeys, indicating a hopeful direction for the future of college sports.