College sports has changed drastically in Rick Barnes’ long coaching career, particularly with the addition of the transfer portal and NIL.
As Tennessee basketball prepares to play No. 17 Alabama at Coleman Coliseum on Jan. 24 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), the Vols coach encountered another new wrinkle.
Former NBA G League player Charles Bediako is expected to play for the Crimson Tide (13-5, 3-2 SEC) against the Vols (12-6, 2-3). Bediako went undrafted in 2023 and spent the last three seasons in the NBA’s development league.
“To me, everybody comes to college, and when you make the choice and you give up your college eligibility, you’ve given it up,” Barnes said on Jan. 23. “Once they start that clock and make that choice, they’ve made that choice. Sometimes, and we know this, those choices haven’t been good through the years, and I could say that with some of the players I’ve coached. They would tell you that if they were standing here. But once you make the choice, you’ve made the choice.”
Bediako, a 6-foot-11, 225-pound center, played for Alabama from 2021-23. He signed a two-way NBA contract, but never appeared in a game. While the NCAA considered him ineligible to play due to that contract, a Tuscaloosa circuit court judge granted Bediako a 10-day restraining order on Jan. 21, allowing him to potentially play against the Vols.
The 23-year-old will have another hearing on Jan. 27.
He’s played for three G League teams since leaving Alabama. Bediako played 10 games for the Motor City Cruise this season and averaged 5.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.
Barnes said it won’t change how the Vols prepare for Alabama.
“No, we do it the same way,” Barnes said. “We’re going to prepare, and obviously we talked about it, like we would anybody else.”
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament wasn’t phased by Bediako returning to college.
“It’s part of the game now,” said Ament. “Got to adjust and play whoever is on the floor.”
Tennessee is coming off a week-long break after a stunning 80-78 home loss to Kentucky on Jan. 17. While Barnes would “absolutely” take in Kevin Durant, a 15-time NBA All-Star who he coached at Texas in 2006, he’s standing firm behind his current roster.
“I could talk to a couple more (former players), maybe,” Barnes joked. “But believe me, I love our team. I love the fact that these guys are continuing to work, and I can say with this particular team, even though we don’t have a scholarship, we would not add to our team. We’re going to ride this horse. We’re going to go with it, because we believe in it.”
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks: knoxnews.com/subscribe
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball, Rick Barnes prepare for Alabama, Charles Bediako
