Alabama's Charles Bediako will play college basketball again

By Sam Federman

Alabama Athletics

Charles Bediako has been granted a temporary restraining order by the Tuscaloosa County court giving him immediate eligibility to play for Alabama basketball, per Nick Kelly of AL.com.

Bediako played for Alabama in 2021-22 and 2022-23 before declaring for, and staying in, the 2023 NBA Draft, where he went undrafted. He has since signed two-way and exhibit-10 NBA contracts with the Detroit Pistons and Denver Nuggets respectively. He sued the NCAA for his eligibility back in the wake of players like James Nnaji, Abdullah Ahmed, and London Johnson getting eligibility to play.

The 10-day temporary restraining order grants him the right to play for the Tide this weekend against Tennessee, but there is a hearing scheduled for Jan. 27, the same day as Alabama's game against Missouri.

"The University of Alabama supports Charles and his ongoing efforts to be reinstated for competition while he works to complete his degree,” the University said in a statement on Wednesday.

The NCAA released a series of statements over the last few weeks, including one on Tuesday when reports surfaced that Bediako sued for his eligibility.

"The NCAA is aware of media reports about a lawsuit filed against the NCAA by Charles Bediako. Mr. Bediako signed three NBA contracts after competing in college for two seasons. The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract. Eligibility rules ensure high school students get a shot at earning scholarships, and we will continue to consistently apply and defend these rules."

However, their ability to enforce those rules are at the mercy of the courts, and this could continue to not just set precedents, but completely break contain, as new precedents are being set incredibly quickly.

Bediako re-enrolled at Alabama at the start of the semester. He has played 83 games in the NBA G League over the last three seasons, between the regular season and tip-off tournament. He averaged 4.3 points and 6.3 rebounds this season in six games for the Motor City Cruise.

In his last season at Alabama, he was a key defensive cog for the No. 1 overall seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The Tide finished 3rd nationally in defense that season and first in two-point defense. This season, Alabama ranks 67th nationally in defense.

UPDATE: The NCAA released another statement in the wake of the TRO.

"These attempts to sidestep NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have finished their time in college or signed NBA contracts are taking away opportunities from high school students. A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college student-athletes is exactly why Congress must step in and empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules."

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Personally, I believe that any player who has knowingly and willingly renounced his college eligibility in any form shouldn't have the right to play college basketball. Bediako did that in 2023 when he declared for, and stayed in, the NBA Draft.

If you choose to be done playing college basketball, don't come crawling back when you're not good enough to play at the next level. The NCAA grants an entire window simply for players to figure out whether they should go back to college based on feedback from scouts, agents, and more, while going through the draft process. That's more than enough.