Charles Bediako’s Return Sparks Eligibility Debate in College Hoops
College basketball’s eligibility rules have always had their quirks, but what’s happening with Alabama’s Charles Bediako takes it to a whole new level. The former NBA prospect suited up for the Crimson Tide in a recent 79-73 loss to Tennessee - despite having already played professionally in both the NBA Summer League and the G-League.
Yes, you read that right. Bediako, who declared for the 2023 NBA Draft and signed a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs, was back on the floor in a college uniform.
How? A temporary restraining order granted by a court is allowing him to play for Alabama while his eligibility case is being sorted out with the NCAA.
This isn’t just a one-off oddity. It’s part of a growing trend where the line between amateur and professional status is getting harder to define.
Bediako’s argument centers on precedent - specifically, that three former G-League players were recently granted eligibility. He believes he’s still within his eligibility window, and until the legal process plays out, he’s back in the rotation for the Tide.
The situation has drawn attention across the college basketball world, including from Georgia head coach Mike White, whose Bulldogs are set to face Tennessee - the very team that just saw Bediako on the court. Speaking with Paul Finebaum, White couldn’t help but crack a joke, referencing former Georgia star and current NBA standout Anthony Edwards.
“Rick doesn’t know he’s going to suit out Wednesday for us,” White said with a grin, nodding toward Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes.
Of course, Edwards is long gone from the college scene. He played one season at Georgia in 2019-2020 before going No. 1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Now in his sixth NBA season at just 24 years old, Edwards is the kind of player who’s clearly moved on - but his age and timeline draw an interesting parallel. Bediako, for context, turns 24 in March.
But while White had fun with the moment, he also acknowledged the complexity of the issue.
“All of us are going to make individual decisions,” he said. “I know Coach Oats at Alabama just got a big back in Bediako, who’s a tremendous talent who won a lot of games, and I’m sure he’ll be a great addition.
I thought he played really well the other night. And you just don’t know all of the factors that went into that decision.”
White’s comments reflect a broader reality in today’s college game: roster decisions aren't always black and white. While some high-profile coaches - think Tom Izzo and John Calipari - have been vocal in their opposition to these kinds of eligibility rulings, others are taking a more nuanced view.
White, for one, understands the temptation.
“It’s easy for all of us to say, ‘Well, I wouldn’t do that to the other bigs on our team,’” he said. “It’d be hard for me if someone said, ‘Hey, you’ve got a really, really good player that wants to come right now and play.’ It’d be hard for me to turn that situation down.”
And that’s the heart of the issue. In a landscape where players can bounce between college, the G-League, and even overseas leagues - and where legal action can reopen doors that seemed closed - coaches are left trying to balance fairness, team chemistry, and, most importantly, the desire to win.
For now, Bediako is back in college basketball, and his presence is already making waves. Whether it’s a temporary twist or a sign of things to come, one thing’s for sure: the eligibility rulebook is getting harder to keep on the shelf.