Charles Bediako can play for Alabama men’s basketball again, for now.
The former center has been granted a temporary restraining order, giving him immediate eligibility to participate in all Alabama men’s basketball activities and games. Bediako hasn’t played for Alabama since 2023.
The order from Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge James H. Roberts will remain in effect by law for 10 days or until a hearing can take place. A hearing on the preliminary injunction is currently set for Jan. 27.
It’s called a temporary restraining order because the NCAA is “restrained from applying or enforcing its bylaws or any other rules or regulations in such a manner as to deny Mr. Bediako’s eligibility to compete in Division I athletics for the University of Alabama’s basketball program.”
Bediako submitted a request to Tuscaloosa Circuit Court on Tuesday, asking for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction to allow him to return to play college basketball for the Crimson Tide. The hearing set for Jan. 27 will make a ruling on the injunction.
It is possible the request for an injunction is denied at the hearing, making it so Bediako can only play one game — vs. Tennessee on Saturday. Or the court could grant the preliminary injunction, and then there would be no set time frame for the case to be resolved.
AL.com has reached out to Alabama athletics and the NCAA for comment on the court ruling.
Bediako left Alabama in 2023 after two seasons when he declared for the NBA draft. He was not selected. Then he signed a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs, only playing for their G League team and never the NBA team. Since then, Bediako has been in the G League, as recently as this month.
“Had Mr. Bediako had more foresight to see the paradigm-shifting changes coming to compensation for NCAA athletes, he likely would still be on campus playing for the University of Alabama right now,” the complaint reads. “When the NCAA recently began to reinstate players with G League experience, and even players who had entered and been selected in the NBA Draft, Mr. Bediako saw this as a chance to right a wrong decision that he had regretted over the past three years.”
The NCAA denied Alabama’s request to reinstate Bediako, per the complaint filed. So he turned to the court system to try and return to college basketball. Bediako has already enrolled at UA for this semester, per court documents.
“The NCAA is aware of media reports about a lawsuit filed against the NCAA by Charles Bediako,” a statement from the NCAA to AL.com read on Tuesday night. “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.”
