Charles Bediako Ruled Ineligible: NCAA Holds Firm as Legal Battle Ends
The NCAA’s ongoing eligibility saga with Charles Bediako took a decisive turn on Monday, as a judge denied the former Alabama center’s injunction to continue playing this season. The ruling effectively ends Bediako’s brief and unprecedented return to college basketball, and NCAA President Charlie Baker didn’t mince words in his response.
“Common sense won a round today,” Baker said in a statement following the decision. “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.”
Baker’s message was clear: the NCAA sees Bediako’s case not just as a one-off eligibility dispute, but as a line in the sand for what college sports should represent. “College sports are for students,” Baker added, “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.”
That sentiment speaks to the broader tension in college athletics right now - a landscape increasingly shaped by transfer freedom, NIL deals, and evolving professional pathways. But in this particular case, the NCAA stood its ground.
A Brief but Impactful Return
Bediako’s return to Tuscaloosa was nothing short of historic. After playing two seasons under Nate Oats at Alabama, he signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs and spent time with three G-League affiliates. Then, in a move that stunned much of the college basketball world, he filed a lawsuit against the NCAA and was granted a temporary restraining order that allowed him to rejoin the Crimson Tide while the legal process played out.
In those five games, Bediako made the most of his minutes. He averaged 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and shot an eye-popping 77.3% from the field. Alabama went 3-2 during that stretch, and while the sample size was small, his presence was felt - especially in the paint, where his size and experience gave the Tide a different dimension.
But now, that chapter is closed.
The NCAA’s Line in the Sand
The heart of the NCAA’s argument rested on Bediako’s professional status. Unlike other international or G-League players who’ve entered the college game without previous NCAA ties or NBA contracts, Bediako had already played college basketball and signed with an NBA team. That combination, in the NCAA’s eyes, disqualified him from returning.
For comparison, players like Baylor’s James Nnaji - who was drafted in 2023, the same year Bediako turned pro - have been deemed eligible because they never played college ball and never signed NBA contracts. That distinction is critical to how the NCAA is drawing its eligibility boundaries.
While Bediako’s case is unique, it raises questions about where the line is - and whether that line should move as the sport continues to evolve. But for now, the NCAA is standing firm.
A Call for Congressional Help
Baker didn’t stop at celebrating the court’s decision. He used the moment to push for broader reform, calling on Congress to step in and help stabilize the patchwork of state laws and eligibility rules that continue to challenge the NCAA’s authority.
“One win doesn’t fix the national mess of state laws,” Baker said. “It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability.”
It’s a familiar refrain from NCAA leadership, but one that’s gaining urgency. As college sports continue to drift into a semi-professional model - with NIL, transfer portals, and legal challenges reshaping the landscape - the need for uniform rules has never been more pressing.
What’s Next?
For Alabama, the focus now turns back to the court, where they’ll move forward without Bediako. For Bediako himself, the next step likely lies back in the professional ranks, where he already has experience and exposure.
And for the NCAA, this ruling serves as both a legal win and a public statement: the door to college sports doesn’t swing both ways. Once you’ve gone pro - especially after playing in the NCAA - there may be no coming back.