Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge James Roberts, Jr. granted NBA G League and former Alabama center Charles Bediako immediate eligibility to rejoin Alabama’s basketball team on Wednesday morning.
Bediako filed a lawsuit in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court on Tuesday against the NCAA in an attempt to play for the Crimson Tide again. Roberts granted his motion on Wednesday for a temporary restraining order against the NCAA.
Bediako, a seven-footer who played for the Tide in the 2022-2023 season before entering the NBA Draft, currently averages 4.4 points per game for the Motor City Cruise in the G League. According to the complaint, he’s currently enrolled at the University of Alabama.
Bediako was “forced to bring this case because the NCAA denied the University of Alabama’s request to reinstate him and allow him to return to collegiate competition," according to the lawsuit.
Roberts said in his ruling on Wednesday, “The Defendant, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Inc. is hereby restrained from applying or enforcing its Bylaws or any other rules or regulations in such a manner as to deny Mr. Bediako’s eligibility to compete in Division I athletics for the University of Alabama’s basketball program.”
“That upon the basis of the foregoing, Mr. Bediako is immediately eligible to participate in all team activities with the University of Alabama’s basketball program, including, but not limited to team meetings, practices, and games,” Roberts said in the order. “The Defendant, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Inc. is further restrained from threatening, imposing, attempting to impose, suggesting, or implying any penalties or sanctions on Mr. Bediako or the University of Alabama or its coaches or other student-athletes as a result of Mr. Bediako’s participation in Division I athletics competition under the Rule of Restitution (NCAA Bylaw 12.11.4.2) or otherwise.”
University of Wisconsin Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb criticized the ruling.
The saddest part is that judges are granting stays based upon their affiliation with schools. Not right and wrong. Go look at the judges who have made college sports a clown show.
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) January 21, 2026
"The saddest part is that judges are granting stays based upon their affiliation with schools. Not right and wrong. Go look at the judges who have made college sports a clown show," Gottlieb said on X.
An NCAA spokesperson said in a statement, “These attempts to sidestep NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have finished their time in college or signed NBA contracts are taking away opportunities from high school students.”
These attempts to sidestep NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have finished their time in college or signed NBA contracts are taking away opportunities from high school students. A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college…
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) January 21, 2026
“A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college student-athletes is exactly why Congress must step in and empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules,” the NCAA spokesperson said.
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