© George Walker IV / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Former Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako is suing the NCAA. He intends to return to Tuscaloosa to finish out two unused seasons of eligibility.
The NCAA has since provided its outlook on the situation at hand, dismissing the hooper’s case. He shouldn’t have listened to bad advice.
Bediako is looking to capitalize on the recent allowance of G-League and international pro players to enter college. The center believes his position is similar to those that have had successful rulings.
This season, there has been an influx of pro talent joining the college game. Santa Clara opened the floodgates by signing G-League player Thierry Darlan. Others have since followed suit, including London Johnson at Louisville and Abdullah Ahmed at BYU.
Baylor made the most waves with its addition of James Nnaji, who was selected in the second round of the ’23 NBA Draft.
Nnaji never played in the NCAA, NBA or G-League. He did play overseas and is just 21 years old.
Bediako is 23. He has played in college and in the G-League. The NCAA does not believe his case is the same.
Who is Charles Bediako?
The 7-foot big man played two years for the Crimson Tide. He averaged less than seven points per game in each of his seasons on campus but did shoot 67% from the floor.
Despite middle of the road production, he opted to enter the ’23 NBA Draft and went undrafted. Bediako chased a payday before the explosion of NIL in college basketball. He now wants to cash in.
The center was unable to find a spot in the NBA, though he did sign a two-way contract. He made his plea in a statement this week.
“Had Mr. Bediako had more foresight to see the paradigm-shifting changes coming to compensation for NCAA athletes, he likely would still be on campus playing for the University of Alabama right now.
“When the NCAA recently began to reinstate players with G League experience, and even players who had entered and been selected in the NBA Draft, Mr. Bediako saw this as a chance to right a wrong decision that he had regretted over the past three years.”
He plans to sue the NCAA in order to return to Alabama. That would open the door for NIL payment.
G-League players make an average of $40,500 per season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Bediako get paid more with the Crimson Tide.
Unfortunately, it might not happen.
The NCAA dismissed his argument.
NCAA releases statement on the eligibility challenge of Charles Bediako pic.twitter.com/u9jAvKlOzX
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) January 21, 2026
“Mr. Bediako signed three NBA contracts after competing in college for two seasons. The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes that have signed an NBA contract.”
The NCAA noted its desire to provide high school athletes with college opportunities, which hasn’t always been evident with past decisions.
Still, in this particular scenario, it’s made its stance on Charles Bediako clear. The former player made his bed by taking bad advice. He now must lay in it.