Charles Bediako’s Return to Alabama: A New Twist in College Basketball’s Changing Landscape
The college basketball world is watching closely as Charles Bediako, the former Alabama center, finds himself back in the mix for the Crimson Tide - at least for now.
Thanks to a temporary restraining order granted Wednesday morning by a Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge, Bediako has been ruled immediately eligible to participate in all Alabama men’s basketball activities and games. And while the legal process is still unfolding, Alabama is preparing as if Bediako will suit up Saturday night when the No. 17 Crimson Tide host Tennessee at Coleman Coliseum.
This development has sparked conversation across the SEC and beyond, and Auburn assistant coach Steven Pearl didn’t shy away from weighing in during an appearance on WJOX radio Thursday morning.
“It’s the landscape of where we’re at right now,” Pearl said. “It’s a slippery slope.”
He’s not wrong. The rules - or the lack of clear, consistent ones - have created a gray area where eligibility, transfers, and professional stints are no longer as cut-and-dry as they once were. Pearl acknowledged that, as a coach, it’s tough to navigate this terrain while balancing the drive to win with the promises made to players and their families.
“I’ve got to be careful with my comments because I don’t know if the young man from Alabama is playing this weekend,” Pearl said. “I know he’s eligible to play.
I don’t want to put one foot in front of the other... but based on the rules we are given or lack thereof, coaches are going to do what they have to do in order to win basketball games. I totally understand that.”
That understanding, however, doesn’t mean there aren’t concerns - especially when it comes to team dynamics and fairness.
Pearl brought up a hypothetical involving his own program: “If I bring in Sharife Cooper - played one year for us during COVID - he actually, based on the timeline, could do what Bediako’s doing and play the rest of the season potentially. What am I going to say to Travis Pettiford, Tahaad’s dad, bringing in a kid like that in the middle of the year to potentially compete with or replace his son?”
That’s the heart of the issue. College coaches are now navigating a system where midseason eligibility changes can upend roster planning and relationships built over years. The push for competitive advantages is real - and understandable - but it comes with consequences.
The court’s temporary restraining order is in place for 10 days or until a hearing can be held. That hearing, currently scheduled for January 27, will determine whether Bediako’s eligibility extends beyond Saturday’s game.
If the injunction is denied, Bediako’s return could be limited to just one appearance. If it’s granted, there’s no set timetable for how long he could remain eligible.
In a statement, Alabama athletics expressed support for Bediako, saying the university backs “his ongoing efforts to be reinstated for competition while he works to complete his degree.”
The NCAA, on the other hand, voiced concern about what Bediako’s return could represent in the broader context of eligibility enforcement.
“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,” the NCAA said in a statement. “A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college student-athletes is exactly why Congress must step in and empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules.”
This isn’t the first time a player with G League experience has tried to return to college hoops. Baylor’s James Nnaji is one example.
But Bediako’s case is different because he already played two seasons at Alabama before declaring for the NBA Draft in 2023. He went undrafted, signed a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs, and played exclusively for their G League affiliate.
As recently as this month, he was still in the G League.
Now, he’s back in Tuscaloosa, enrolled and hoping for a second shot at college basketball.
The legal filing on his behalf paints a picture of a player trying to undo a decision he regrets. “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.
And that’s what makes this story so compelling. Bediako isn’t just trying to return to college basketball - he’s trying to reclaim a chapter he thought was closed.
Whether that chapter continues beyond Saturday night remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the rules of engagement in college basketball are shifting, and everyone - players, coaches, schools, and the NCAA - is being forced to adjust on the fly.