Sports
NBA Players Returning to College Shows How Broken the NCAA Is
College basketball is broken.
Just a few weeks ago, Alabama head coach Nate Oates caused a stir when San Antonio Spurs big man Charles Bediako returned to college.
This week, former Charlotte Hornets guard Amari Bailey hired an agent and a lawyer seeking a return to college basketball despite appearing in 10 NBA games this season — a much more egregious case than what happened with Bediako, who was an undrafted Summer League player.
Bailey departed college basketball in 2023 when he left the UCLA Bruins for the NBA Draft. He became the No. 41 overall pick, but his career probably hasn’t gone to plan.
For the most part, it feels like players who are “basketball lifers” are now trying to exploit the current NCAA landscape in order to regain eligibility, collect more NIL money, and improve their NBA standing later.
It’s hard to blame Bailey or Bediako for this. They’ve found loopholes in a broken system that would allow them to secure a few more big paydays in college before heading back to the Association.
Bailey is just 21 years old. There are players currently in college basketball who are older than him. But the issue is that he left college three seasons ago to pursue an NBA career. His parents are Johanna Leia, a social media influencer, and former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Aaron Bailey. He grew up with the resources required to chase basketball at the highest level.
Bailey grew up in Chicago and appeared on a reality television series with his mother during his middle school basketball career. That early fame put him on the map and eventually inspired a move to California, where he attended Sierra Canyon High School.
After his junior year, Bailey was named Mr. Basketball in the state of California. He became a McDonald’s All-American as a senior.
A consensus five-star recruit, Bailey committed to DePaul while still in eighth grade. He later switched to UCLA as a high school freshman, decommitted, and eventually recommitted to the Bruins.
Fast forward to the present day, and the former No. 1 player in the country has bounced around the G League. His professional career hasn’t matched the hype of his youth basketball rise.
But here’s the issue: none of this has been amateur.
From the time Bailey was in middle school, his basketball career has been monetized. You can’t fault him for wanting to return to the so-called “amateur” ranks of college basketball — where his career was far more successful. In the NIL era, it would likely be more lucrative, too.
But why should this be allowed?
If Bailey were to return to college basketball, he would be taking an opportunity away from another athlete who dedicated their own life to the sport. Someone else worked just as hard for a scholarship or roster spot, only to lose it because an NBA player didn’t get the professional start he hoped for.
Bailey has lived through March Madness. He walked across the stage at the NBA Draft. That moment is supposed to represent a clear transition from amateur to professional basketball. Now that line can simply be erased?
Not to mention, Bailey has seen NBA talent up close. Even in just 10 regular-season games, he experienced the speed, strength, and structure of the professional game. That alone gives him an edge over college players who are supposed to be his peers.
Again, you can’t blame him. He’s exploiting a broken system, just like anyone in his position would consider doing. But until someone steps in to properly govern college sports, situations like this will only grow more bizarre.
Sports
Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Furman Paladins guard Alex Wilkins (10) dribbles the ball against the UConn Huskies in the second half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Former Furman guard has Alex Wilkins transferred to Kentucky.
His transfer was announced on Saturday.
Wilkins excelled in his freshman season with the Paladins, averaging 17.8 points, 4.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 35 games (all starts).
Listed at 6-foot-5, Wilkins showed his skills to a national audience in Furman’s lone game of the NCAA Tournament. He made four 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the Paladins’ 82-71 loss to eventual national championship runner-up UConn in the first round.
–Field Level Media
Sports
New Bengals DT Dexter Lawrence signs 1-year, $28M extension
Nov 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) scrambles away from New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence passed his physical and signed a one-year contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals through the 2028 season on Sunday morning.
Financial terms were communicated through Win Sports Group, which informed multiple media outlets that the extension was worth $28 million.
Lawrence was acquired by Cincinnati from the New York Giants on Saturday in exchange for the No. 10 pick overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“We are excited to add Dexter to our team,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “He has been a dominant player in the league since he was drafted, and he will be a tremendous presence on the field and in our locker room.”
Lawrence, 28, requested a trade last week and did not report to the Giants’ offseason program, with reports that discussions over a contract extension had reached an impasse.
The Giants have three of the top 37 picks in the 2026 draft. That includes their original first-round pick — No. 5 — and Cincinnati’s selection, No. 10.
A 2019 first-round pick (17th overall) out of Clemson, Lawrence has recorded 341 tackles, 30.5 sacks and 103 quarterback hits in 109 games (102 starts) over seven seasons in New York.
Lawrence was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022 through 2024, but not last season when he started 17 games and had 31 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and one interception.
Cincinnati already added to its defensive line with offseason signings of former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract and former Minnesota Vikings tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million deal.
“The opportunity to add a player of Dexter’s ability was too good to pass up,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. “… Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him. We are confident in Dexter and can’t wait to see the positive effects he and the other players we have acquired this offseason have on our football team. We are excited to turn to the draft and our remaining picks to further enhance our team.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
St. Bonaventure sees influx of transfers added to basketball roster
Feb 28, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions forward Mason Blackwood (1) drives the ball to the basket during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images Former Penn State forward Mason Blackwood became the latest transfer to commit to St. Bonaventure and to new head coach Mike MacDonald.
ESPN broke that news Sunday morning, and Blackwood’s transfer caps an eventful week for the Bonnies.
Per the 247 transfer portal and multiple reports, St. Bonaventure, located in Olean, N.Y., has added to its roster this week, along with Blackwood:
–Akbar Waheed III, a 6-foot-6 guard who redshirted at Boston College last season.
–Zach Philipkoski, a 6-4 guard, and 6-10 center Benjamin Bill, both of whom played for MacDonald at Division II Daemen.
–Taj Au-Duke, a 6-3 point guard who started his college career at Pepperdine but transferred to Indian Hills Community College in Iowa, where he became a first-team JUCO All-American.
–Ryan Kalambay, a 6-9 forward from Detroit Mercy.
Returning to the Bonnies from the 2005-06 roster are Ilia Ermakov, a 6-6 guard from Russia; John Ikpotokin, a 6-7 center from Ireland; Jack DeRose, a 6-foot guard and local product from Olean High School; Achille Lonati, a 6-5 Italian guard; and Joe Grahovac, a 6-10 forward from Santa Ana, Calif.
With Kalambay and Au-Duke from Canada, the Bonnies will have an international flair.
The Bonnies are losing four seniors and seven players to the transfer portal. According to 247Sports’ portal tracker, none of them have selected a new school.
Adding two players with experience in a power-conference program is a boost for St. Bonaventure.
Blackwood, from nearby Rochester, N.Y., appeared in 26 games as a freshman (one start) and averaged 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds over 12.2 minutes. The 6-7 forward is expected to be a building block for the revamped Bonnies.
Waheed didn’t appear in any games at Boston College as a freshman. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.
St. Bonaventure finished 17-17 in the 2025-26 season and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 play.
MacDonald was hired as head coach on March 31 to replace Mark Schmidt, who retired after 19 seasons on the job. A 1988 St. Bonaventure alum, he led Daemen to a 265-86 record over 12 seasons. He led the Wildcats to NCAA Division II East Regional championships in 2026 and 2021.
He is the only coach to win 100 games with programs at the Division I (Canisius), II (Daemen) and III (Medaille) levels.
–Field Level Media
Kentucky adds Furman transfer Alex Wilkins
New Bengals DT Dexter Lawrence signs 1-year, $28M extension
