The NCAA’s ongoing eligibility saga has taken another unexpected turn-this time in Tuscaloosa, where Alabama big man Charles Bediako is set to return to the court under unusual circumstances.
Yes, that Charles Bediako. The 7-footer who last played college basketball in 2023 and has since spent time bouncing between NBA contracts, including a two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs. Despite his professional stints, Bediako has been granted a temporary court order that allows him to suit up for the Crimson Tide this coming weekend.
It’s a move that’s raised more than a few eyebrows around the college basketball world, and understandably so. The NCAA's eligibility rules have already been under the microscope this season, but this situation pushes the conversation into new territory.
How does a player who’s signed multiple NBA contracts end up back on a college roster? And what precedent does that set moving forward?
Kentucky head coach Mark Pope didn’t shy away from weighing in after his team’s win over Texas. He acknowledged the NCAA’s authority, particularly when it comes to postseason implications.
“The NCAA does get to decide who gets to go to the NCAA Tournament. They get to decide that.
They have that power,” Pope said. “At some point, when they’ve been very, very clear about what the rules that they’re going to try and enforce…they might lose in court, but they still get to decide what games count towards the NCAA Tournament.”
Pope’s comments cut to the heart of the issue. The NCAA may be losing battles in court, but it still holds the cards when it comes to defining eligibility in the context of its own tournament.
That’s not a small detail. We're talking about the organization that governs who gets to dance in March-and that means it still wields significant influence, even if the legal ground beneath it is starting to shift.
The broader concern here is consistency. College programs, coaches, and players are all trying to navigate a rapidly changing landscape where rules seem to be enforced one way one week and another the next. And when court orders start dictating who can and can’t play, it becomes harder to draw a clear line between amateurism and professionalism.
That’s the real tension in this story. Bediako’s return might be legal in the eyes of a court, but what does it mean for the integrity of college basketball?
If the NCAA can’t-or won’t-enforce a consistent eligibility standard, how do teams know what counts and what doesn’t? And how long before we see more players exploring similar legal avenues to return to the college game after turning pro?
One thing is clear: the NCAA is at a crossroads. The rules are being tested like never before, and the organization is being forced to respond in real time. Whether it can do so in a way that maintains credibility across the board remains to be seen.
For now, Charles Bediako is back in crimson, and the Crimson Tide are preparing to take the court with a player whose eligibility status is anything but conventional. Where this all leads is still uncertain-but what’s not in question is that the NCAA’s grip on eligibility is being challenged in ways we haven’t seen before.