College basketball’s eligibility rules might start getting weird.
According to Nick Kelly of AL.com, Motor City Cruise center Charles Bediako has been granted an injunction from an Alabama judge that allows him to immediately play for the Alabama Crimson Tide despite more than two seasons spent in the NBA’s G League. The injunction will last for 10 days or until a hearing can take place for a final ruling to be made.
Bediako, 23, played at Alabama from 2021-23, averaging 6.6 points in 70 games for the Crimson Tide before declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft. He has spent the last three seasons in the G League after going undrafted, first for the Austin Spurs in the 2023-24 season, next for the Grand Rapids Gold in 2024-25 and currently for the Cruise, the affiliate of the Detroit Pistons.
Bediako sued the NCAA on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in an attempt to return to college, arguing that he has the right to retain NCAA eligibility since he wasn’t drafted and hasn’t played for an NBA team.
“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 lawsuit reads.
The injunction currently only affects one game, an Alabama home game against Tennessee on Saturday. If the judge eventually rules in favor of the NCAA, it will be the only game Bediako will be eligible to play for the Crimson Tide, who are coached by former Romulus High School coach Nate Oats.
The NCAA pushed back against the ruling.
“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,” it wrote in a statement to AL.com.
Alabama supported the ruling in a statement.
“The University of Alabama supports Charles and his ongoing efforts to be reinstated for competition while he works to complete his degree.
Charles Bediako, Cruise center, OK’d for college ball temporarily
