Charles Bediako Ruled Ineligible: NCAA Scores Legal Victory in Alabama Case
Charles Bediako’s second act in college basketball has come to an abrupt end. A Tuscaloosa judge has denied the former NBA hopeful’s request for an injunction, effectively ruling him ineligible to continue playing for Alabama. It’s a major win for the NCAA in a case that’s been under the microscope for the past few weeks.
Bediako had been suiting up for the Crimson Tide under a temporary restraining order, which allowed him to return to the college hardwood despite questions surrounding his eligibility. That order, issued by a previous judge, gave Alabama a brief window to use the 7-footer in game action. Head coach Nate Oats didn’t hesitate to take advantage, inserting Bediako into the lineup while the legal process played out.
But that legal window has now closed.
The case took a turn when Judge James Roberts, the original judge assigned, recused himself due to ties to the Alabama athletic department. That opened the door for Judge Daniel Pruet to take over-and ultimately deliver the ruling that shut the door on Bediako’s college career.
In his written decision, Judge Pruet made it clear that Bediako’s legal team didn’t meet the necessary criteria for a preliminary injunction. Specifically, Pruet stated that Bediako failed to satisfy the first three elements required for the court to grant such relief. That meant the court didn’t even need to weigh the potential hardship to the NCAA if the injunction were allowed to stand.
“Nonetheless,” Pruet added, “it cannot be said that the defendant would suffer precisely zero hardship if the injunction were issued.”
Translation: letting Bediako play on would have had ripple effects beyond just Alabama basketball.
From Alabama’s side, Oats remained adamant that Bediako had done nothing wrong. The Tide coach pointed to the shifting landscape of college basketball-especially around eligibility and the pro-to-college pipeline-as part of the rationale behind Bediako’s return.
“Charles and his agent and his attorneys have seen what’s gone on in the landscape of college basketball,” Oats said. “They didn’t see a reason why Charles wouldn’t be eligible.”
But the court didn’t see it that way-and neither did the NCAA.
NCAA president Charlie Baker issued a strong statement after the ruling, framing it as a win not just for the organization, but for the principle of amateurism in college sports.
“Common sense won a round today,” Baker said. “The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students. College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the ‘undo’ button at the expense of a teenager’s dream.”
Baker didn’t stop there. He also used the moment to call on Congress to bring more consistency to a landscape that’s increasingly shaped by conflicting state laws and legal gray areas.
“While we’re glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want,” Baker continued, “one win doesn't fix the national mess of state laws. It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability.”
The Bediako case has become a flashpoint in the ongoing tug-of-war between the NCAA’s traditional structure and the evolving realities of modern college athletics. Between NIL deals, the transfer portal, and now legal battles over eligibility, the lines between amateur and pro have never been blurrier.
For now, though, the NCAA gets to claim a rare victory in that fight. And for Charles Bediako, the dream of a college basketball comeback ends here.