Charles Bediako vs. the NCAA: A Legal Battle That Could Reshape College Basketball Eligibility
Former Alabama center Charles Bediako is taking his eligibility fight to court, challenging the NCAA’s decision to deny his return to college basketball-three years after he left Tuscaloosa to pursue a professional career. The legal showdown could be a pivotal moment in how the NCAA handles eligibility for former pros, especially in this new era where the lines between amateur and professional sports are blurrier than ever.
Why Bediako Is Suing the NCAA
At the heart of the case is Bediako’s attempt to play in the second half of Alabama’s current season. The NCAA denied his eligibility waiver, citing his history of signing multiple NBA contracts-specifically Two-Way and Exhibit 10 deals. According to the NCAA’s current stance, that professional affiliation is a disqualifier.
But here’s where it gets complicated: Bediako never played in an actual NBA game. His time was spent in the G-League, the NBA’s official developmental league.
And that’s not uncharted territory. The NCAA has previously granted eligibility to players with G-League experience.
It’s also approved waivers for players who played professionally overseas. So why draw the line here?
That’s the question Bediako and his legal team are putting before the court.
The NCAA’s Inconsistent Standards
The NCAA has long struggled to define what constitutes "professional" in the context of eligibility. Playing in Europe?
That’s been okay. G-League experience?
Also sometimes okay. But sign a contract with an NBA team-even if you never suit up in an actual game-and suddenly that’s a bridge too far?
It’s a distinction that feels arbitrary, especially now that college basketball has fully embraced the realities of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) compensation. Players are earning money, signing deals, and building brands-all while maintaining eligibility. The old amateur model is gone, replaced by something that looks and feels a lot more like the pros.
Bediako’s case is forcing the NCAA to reckon with that shift.
What Makes Bediako’s Case Unique
There’s more to this than just contracts and technicalities. When Bediako left Alabama, he still had two years of eligibility left.
But due to his citizenship status, he was unable to fully capitalize on NIL opportunities at the time. His legal team argues that if the current NIL landscape had existed back then, Bediako likely would’ve stayed in school.
Now, he’s in the final year of his five-year eligibility window-NCAA rules allow athletes five calendar years to use four seasons of competition. That ticking clock is why this case is moving quickly. It’s not just about a principle-it’s about whether Bediako gets one last shot to play college basketball.
A Bigger Question for College Hoops
This case isn’t just about one player or one school. It’s about what college basketball is becoming.
The NCAA has already opened the door to former professionals returning to the college ranks. They’ve allowed European pros.
They’ve cleared G-League players. They’ve even granted eligibility to a first-round NBA draft pick.
So why not Bediako?
That’s the crux of the issue. If the NCAA is going to allow some former pros back in, it can’t pick and choose based on contract language or league affiliation. The system has to be consistent-or it’s going to keep ending up in court.
The New Reality of College Athletics
Whether the NCAA likes it or not, college sports have changed. NIL has transformed the landscape, and the idea of strict amateurism is largely a thing of the past.
Programs, coaches, and players are adapting. They’re navigating a system that now rewards savvy just as much as skill.
In that context, Bediako, Alabama, and head coach Nate Oats are simply playing by the rules as they exist today. The NCAA helped build this new world. Now it’s being asked to live by it.
The court will decide whether Bediako gets to suit up again. But the implications of this case could reach far beyond one player’s eligibility. This is about defining what college basketball is-and who gets to be a part of it.