Marreese Speights Jokes About Returning to College Basketball

Former NBA player Marreese Speights, a title winner with the Golden State Warriors and a national champion with the Florida Gators, recently had some fun at the expense of basketball players who are heading back to school. On social media, Speights, now 38, humorously announced that he might rejoin the Gators nearly two decades after he left school to embark on a professional career. He played for the Gators for two years before declaring for the NBA Draft in 2008.

“After 18 seasons, I’m heading back to Florida with two years left to play,” he tweeted, posting a picture of himself in a Gators uniform. He also mentioned having an exciting conversation with Coach Todd Golden, expressing his eagerness to return to play for his old team. “After a long career in the NBA, with the new rules in place, I will be back on the court for the next two years,” he added, clearly poking fun at those college players returning after being named to G League rosters.

In other college basketball news, LSU Tigers head coach Will Wade is reportedly working on signing RJ Lewis, a former G League player and star from St. John’s. There are plans for a petition to the NCAA to reinstate Lewis’ eligibility after he signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz but never played in the NBA or G League.

The NCAA typically allows eligibility for international students who have played professionally overseas. However, they recently denied Charles Bediako’s attempts to return to college basketball at Alabama after he filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement. While on essentially a temporary suspension, Bediako was barred from completing the season with the Crimson Tide.

Interestingly, James Nagy, a Nigerian center and NBA draft pick, was granted four years of NCAA eligibility last year but never played in the NBA since his draft rights were traded after a stint with FC Barcelona in Spain. In his statement regarding these regulations, NCAA President Charlie Baker pointed out the increasing trend of schools hiring individuals with international coaching experience and emphasized the importance of keeping prospective student-athletes from American leagues on even footing with their international counterparts.