http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/abreu-wants-to-return-to-university-of-akron-basketball-team-1.467333?localLinksEnabled=false

Coach K.D. is the king of second and third chances, so don't be surprised if shows up in a Zip uniform next season.

My question is more about his eligibility.  Doesn't he only have a year left?  Do they want to bring in a guy like him with just one year left?

I could see an (overly?) empathetic couch offering a player with Abreau's past history of stupid choices and proven illegal behavior a second chance to rejoin a team under a clearly communicated set of Steps (conditions) and caveats.

Step 1: Rematriculate to the University.

Step 2: Full (24/7) conformance to all University and team academic, behavior, ethics, etc. rules 

Step 3: Take advantage of the opportunity to join the basketball team that is often offered to all University students at the beginning of the next academic year and tryout as a walk-on (non-scholarship) player.
 
Step 4: Take part in the tryouts and earn a spot on the team.
       Caveat 1:  Successful tryout candidates will be selected based on demonstrated basketball abilities, basketball IQ, coachability, etc. without regard to any past playing history with the team.
       Caveat 2:  The tryout period playing assesment will be modified based upon the coaching staff''s estimate or "gut feeling" as to the probability that each candidate will continue to meet the Step 2 requirement for the duration of the academic year.  This estimate will include consideration of any proven past illegal or otherwise non-conforming behavior.

Step 5: Continue full (24/7) conformance to all University and team academic, behavior, ethics, etc. rules.

Step 6: (Reached only as a result of a step 5 failure.)  There will be no third chance opportunity.

Should Abreu follow this path and, thereby, rejoin the team, he could demonstrate remorse for past choices as well as a seemingly sincere desire to make partial amends his team its coaches and fans as well as the University as a whole.  Additionally it would actually give him something useful to say during his (presumably court ordered) opportunities to speak before audiences such as elementary school students. 

CORRECTION:  He is quoted in the article that his appearance was not court ordered.

This is a trial balloon in a long-term play by Abreu and Dambrot.  They are slowly raising Abreu's profile again locally to see how fans react.    He will be back on the team next year…unless he gets into trouble again. (And that's a very real possibility.)

I'm not really going to bash Akron for this.  While it's not a popular opinion, and I kind of wish I didn't have it:  If this had happened to DJ or someone of that level, I'd secretly be stoked if there was a chance they'd come back and play.  

Abreu was a Junior last year, so he would have 1 year of eligibility remaining.

I spoke to a fan at the game last night and he indicated that KD wants Abreu back  because he "believes in second chances." I think it will happen. The fan also said that Abreu is in Akron now.

...wow

You're right. That is so obviously ripped off from the Shoot Basketballs Not Heroin Clinic held in November.