Charles Bediako’s second run with Alabama is over.
A Tuscaloosa judge denied Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to keep playing for the Crimson Tide on Monday, according to AL.com’s Nick Kelly. So his season is now over.
“Common sense won a round today,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement. “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. While we’re glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want, 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.”
Bediako filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in order to return to Alabama, where he last played during the 2022-23 campaign, earlier this year. Bediako entered the NBA Draft in 2023, but he was not selected. The 7-footer played spent the last few seasons playing in the G League, and he even appeared in six games for the Motor City Cruise this season.
Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order in January that allowed him to take the court again with the Crimson Tide. He made his official return a few days later, and finished with 13 points and three rebounds in a loss to Tennessee. Bediako has played in five total games for Alabama, most recently on Saturday in their win over Auburn.
Now, though, Alabama will have to play the rest of the season without him. The Crimson Tide hold a 16-7 record entering Wednesday’s game at Ole Miss.
This post will be updated with more information shortly.
