College basketball is facing a seismic shift this season - not because of a buzzer-beater or a Cinderella story, but because of a growing trend that’s challenging the very structure of amateur athletics: former pros are finding their way back into the college game.
It all started when James Nnanji, who was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, made a surprising return to the college ranks. Nnanji never quite stuck in the NBA, logging time in Summer League but failing to land a permanent roster spot. His decision to re-enter the college basketball world sent shockwaves through the sport, raising eyebrows and questions about eligibility, fairness, and what the future of college athletics might look like.
But Nnanji’s return was just the beginning.
Alabama has since taken things to a whole new level. The Crimson Tide brought back Charles Bediako, a former standout who played for the program from 2021 to 2023 before declaring for the NBA Draft.
Bediako went undrafted and bounced around on a couple of two-way contracts. Then came the legal twist: Bediako was granted an injunction allowing him to return to college play - but the judge overseeing the case had to recuse himself after it was revealed he was an Alabama booster.
That revelation only added more fuel to the fire, highlighting the murky waters surrounding the intersection of college eligibility, legal rulings, and booster influence.
Now, the door appears wide open, and more former pros are eyeing a return to the college hardwood. The latest name in the mix?
Amari Bailey. The former UCLA star and Charlotte Hornet played in 10 NBA games during the 2023-24 season.
If he’s cleared to return, Bailey would become the first player with NBA regular-season experience to head back to college basketball - a move that, not long ago, would’ve seemed unthinkable.
This isn’t just a quirky one-off trend anymore. It’s a potential game-changer.
And it’s not just basketball that’s watching. The ripple effects could soon reach the gridiron.
At the Senior Bowl, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about the situation, and while he didn’t speculate too deeply, he acknowledged that the football world is paying close attention.
“I’m sure there will be some decisions and some examples that we’ll learn more from,” DeBoer said, “as people start to press the issue when it comes to the football side of things, as it’s related to that situation.”
Here’s the key: for a football player to potentially follow in these footsteps, they’d need to have declared early for the NFL Draft while still holding college eligibility. If they went undrafted and didn’t sign with a team - or spent a year on a practice squad without logging game action - the door might be cracked open for a return.
That’s where things could get interesting.
College football coaches are some of the most competitive minds in sports, and they’re always on the lookout for an edge. If there’s a legal precedent being set in college basketball that allows former players to return, you can bet football programs will be watching closely. Whether it’s through lawsuits, eligibility loopholes, or NIL-fueled incentives, the idea of bringing back a player who once left for the pros might become more than just a hypothetical.
We’re in uncharted territory now. College sports have already been reshaped by the transfer portal, NIL deals, and conference realignment. But this - the idea of players bouncing back from the pros to the college game - could be the next frontier.
For now, all eyes are on basketball. But don’t be surprised if this becomes a bigger conversation in football circles sooner rather than later. The rules of the game are changing - and fast.