The rules of the game of college basketball are changing. Like it or not, things are different than just a few years ago. And for most fans, they’re staunchly opposed to the direction that college sports, particularly college basketball, are going.

Baylor and Alabama pushed the envelope this year by bringing back players who declared for and went through the NBA Draft. In the case of Charles Bediako, he played in the NBA G League for three seasons before an Alabama judge made him eligible a couple of weeks back.

Now, things could be really about to ramp up to an even more absurd level. Per ESPN’s Dan Murphy, former UCLA player Amari Bailey, who has played in an NBA game for the Charlotte Hornets, is attempting to regain his eligibility via the legal system.

Former Charlotte Hornets player and UCLA standout Amari Bailey is making plans to return to college. He is the first player who has played in regular season NBA games to push for college eligibility. Details: https://t.co/VRjrBQnt7a

— Dan Murphy (@DanMurphyESPN) January 30, 2026

According to Murphy, the Bruins would have to file a petition with the NCAA for a waiver. When that is ultimately denied — and it all but assuredly would be — Bailey would then file a lawsuit to challenge the ruling.

NCAA Senior VP of External Affairs Tim Buckley made it clear where the NCAA stands on the issue on Friday evening:

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. https://t.co/hrSqL7xr8b

— Tim Buckley (@Tim_BuckleyMA) January 30, 2026

If Amari Bailey is able to return to college, it would open the door for NBA players to return, and Tennessee should be prepared for that

If Bailey is successful, then bringing back NBA players who didn’t play four years will become the norm for everybody. More and more coaches will start to welcome back former players from the NBA, from G Leagues, from European leagues, from all over. College basketball will effectively become a minor league level professional sport.

And Rick Barnes and Tennessee will ultimately have to decide how they’re going to answer the most important question facing them and every other school — are we going to play by these rules?

And if so, what if they tried to bring someone like Dalton Knecht back for one more season in Knoxville? Knecht played three seasons of college ball and two at the Juco level. Incredibly, that might not be a farfetched possibility with the way things have been trending lately. Or what about, perhaps, Kennedy Chandler, who is currently in the NBA G League? Or 2023-24 NBA champion Jaden Springer, who’s also there?

It’s a flat-out gross proposition to many fans, and understandably so, but if Bailey and others are successful in their efforts in court to get back into college — and there will be others who try — Tennessee and the rest of the college basketball world will have to decide if they’re going to adapt or get left behind.

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