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Myron Medcalf
East alabama Standout Charles Bediako, who entered the 2023 NBA Draft and signed a two-way contract with San Antonio Spurs That year, he has been granted a temporary restraining order barring the Crimson Tide from immediately returning to college basketball, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Bediako, who went undrafted after playing on two NCAA Tournament teams at Alabama in 2021-22 and 2022-23, never appeared in an NBA game. Sued the NCAA A day earlier the school had rejected his appeal to allow him to return to college basketball.
The judge’s major decision came hours after NCAA President Charlie Baker reiterated that Bediako and other players who signed NBA contracts will not be granted eligibility to play college basketball.
The case could potentially reshape the sport in turbulent times. While the NCAA has recently sanctioned international players and G League players with professional experience, those athletes had not previously played college basketball. This marks the first time that a player who entered the NBA Draft and signed an NBA contract after playing college basketball has been given the opportunity to return to Division I basketball.
James H. Roberts Jr. of the Tuscaloosa (Alabama) Circuit Court ruled that Bediako is “immediately eligible” to participate in all team activities with the Crimson Tide. He also ruled that the NCAA is barred from “threatening, imposing, attempting to impose, suggesting, or imposing any penalty or sanction” against Bediako, Alabama, its coaches or players.
The temporary restraining order is valid for 10 days. A full hearing on Bediako’s request for a preliminary injunction will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. local time.
“The University of Alabama supports Charles and his ongoing efforts to be reinstated to compete while he works to complete his degree,” Alabama said in a statement.
“These efforts to circumvent NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have completed their time in college or signed an NBA contract are taking opportunities away from high school students,” the NCAA said in a new statement Wednesday. “A judge ruling on the NCAA letting a former NBA player take action against actual college student-athletes in court Saturday is why Congress should empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules.”
In his initial complaint against the NCAA, Bediako cited the Baylor center’s eligibility James NanajiThe 31st pick in the 2023 NBA Draft who was cleared to play college basketball in December despite playing in the NBA’s Summer League and playing several years with EuroLeague standouts FC Barcelona. Bediako’s initial complaint stated that the NCAA had been biased against international players with professional experience who had recently been cleared to play.
Bediako’s complaint states, “The NCAA’s recent reinstatement of James Nnaji, along with other European professional players, shows that the current application of eligibility rules favors players who have competed internationally over athletes who pursue domestic opportunities.” “Despite being selected 31st overall in the NBA Draft, Nnaji was recently reinstated and will have four seasons of NCAA eligibility. This, despite Nnaji playing professionally in Europe for at least three seasons, including two seasons for powerhouse FC Barcelona. NCAA rules create a completely arbitrary distinction between student athletes who go straight from high school to professional competition and those who initially enroll in college, Leave for the draft later, and then want to come back.”
The case could open the door to other former college basketball stars who have signed two-way contracts or even full NBA contracts and want to return to college basketball – a possible scenario highlighted by Tom Izzo, Dan Hurley, John Calipari and other leaders in the game. when louisville announced commitment Of london johnsonIzzo, the other G League player who was cleared by the NCAA in October, envisioned the scenario playing out with Bediako.
“Someone’s going to say, ‘Well, if they go pro and it doesn’t work out, they should be able to come back,'” said Izzo, who added that there are “no rules” in college basketball right now.
Yukon AD David Benedict told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that he is urging Baker and the NCAA to take a stand in eligibility cases where the judge’s decision is circumventing NCAA rules.
Benedict said, “If legally we cannot control or enforce NCAA rules based on legal decisions about who can and who cannot play, the NCAA still has the right to determine which sports count toward the NCAA tournament and which sports do not count.”
“The NCAA has acknowledged [Bediako] Ineligible. ok, he can play [on a judge’s ruling]. This does not mean that the games should count towards the NCAA Tournament. Otherwise, throw away the rule book and set it on fire. there are no rules.”
Earlier this month, Alabama coach Nate Oats said Nnaji and other former pros and G League players who have foregone college eligibility will hurt high school kids seeking opportunities in college basketball. But he also said that if possible, he would consider going against the same players.
Oates said on SiriusXM Radio, “I wouldn’t say that I would have been one of the people that it was necessary to start with because I think it’s taking away opportunities from kids coming out of high school.” “I was a high school coach for 11 years. I wanted kids to have opportunities when they left my program. It’s taking opportunities away from those kids. But at the competitive level, if it’s acceptable and they’re eligible to play and they’re the best player you can get, you’ve probably got to go after them.”
Other professional players, including European prospects, who turned to college basketball as the next step in their development had never played Division I basketball. That is why Bediako’s case is unique.
In his initial complaint, Bediako said that if he had known that revenue sharing and zero opportunities would be available to him in the future, he would have remained in Alabama. He also cited injuries and his struggle to find a place at the next level in his request to play college basketball again – he never appeared in any NBA game.
Based on the NCAA’s five-year window, Bediako could attend Alabama for the remainder of the season – depending on what happens at his next hearing – before his eligibility expires. He’ll join Alabama, which faces Tennessee in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, as it navigates defensive struggles (ranked 67th in adjusted defensive efficiency).
In two seasons at Alabama, Bediako averaged 6.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg and 1.7 bpg. In his most recent season with the Crimson Tide (2022–23), Alabama had the No. 3 defense in America.
