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Jeff Borzello
Hearing continues alabama Center Charles BediakoAccording to the petition filed in court, the request for a preliminary injunction has been delayed due to weather-related problems, resulting in his temporary restraining order (TRO) being extended for 10 days.
Bediako was given a 10-day temporary restraining order last week, which allows him to immediately play for Alabama and bars the NCAA from punishing the university in any way, with a full hearing scheduled for Tuesday. But the parties held a virtual status conference on Monday because Taylor Askew, one of the NCAA’s attorneys, was unable to attend Tuesday’s hearing due to weather-related issues.
Judge James H. Roberts extended the temporary restraining order by 10 days after the NCAA agreed that “good cause exists” to extend it. The initial temporary restraining order, which was granted on Wednesday, was expected to remain in effect for 10 days or until a hearing is held.
The full hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
Bediako played his first college game in nearly three years on Saturday against Tennessee, scoring 13 points in a 79–73 loss. Alabama will host Missouri on Tuesday before visiting Florida on Sunday.
The 6-foot-11 center played two seasons at Alabama in 2021-22 and 2022-23 before leaving early for the NBA Draft. He went undrafted and has never played in an NBA game, spending the last three seasons playing for three different G League teams, most recently for the Motor City Cruz like this past weekend.
He sued the NCAA for immediate reinstatement after the organization rejected Alabama’s appeal for his return.
Unlike former professionals who were granted eligibility by the NCAA – including Baylor James NanajiBediako – the first undrafted player to gain eligibility in men’s college basketball – signed two-way deals with multiple NBA teams, and has previously served as the NCAA’s own line in the sand when it comes to eligibility.
NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt released a statement Friday reiterating that anyone who remains in the NBA Draft after the withdrawal deadline, as Bediako did, loses his remaining college eligibility.
“[If those rules] If it cannot be implemented, it will create an unstable environment for student-athletes, schools building rosters for next season, and the NBA,” Gavitt said in the statement.
Bediako averaged 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks over his last two seasons at Alabama.
