Judge rules against Charles Bediako in massive win for NCAA in eligibility case

The NCAA received a massive win on Monday as an Alabama judge denied a motion for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed Charles Bediako to continue playing at Alabama.

The ruling ends Bediako’s attempt to regain his eligibility to play college basketball again after leaving Alabama in 2023 for the NBA draft and playing three seasons as a pro in the G League. 

In his decision, Judge Daniel F. Pruet ruled that Bediako had no “reasonable expectation” that he would be allowed to play college basketball again when no one else had been allowed to under the same circumstances. 

Alabama Crimson Tide center Charles Bediako (14) dunks the ball over Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) and Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) during the first half. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Pruet also ruled Bediako is governed by NCAA rules and wrote, “To obtain the benefits promised to him for participation in NCAA basketball, the Plaintiff must be eligible to participate in NCAA basketball.”

“Eligibility to participate in the NCAA is controlled by the Defendant’s application of the eligibility rules legislated by the NCAA membership,” he wrote. 

The judge indicated in the ruling that Bediako had failed to reach the criteria that would have provided merit for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to play for the Crimson Tide for the rest of the season. 

“The Plaintiff also asserted that he would suffer irreparable harm by missing out on the ‘college experience.’ There is no proof in the record that, but for an athletic scholarship, the Plaintiff cannot afford to attend college,” the judge wrote. “If the Plaintiff wishes to pursue a degree, he is free to do so. The Court has been presented no evidence demonstrating that the Plaintiff would be prevented from attending the University of Alabama unless the Court issued the injunction. The Plaintiff has failed to establish that he would suffer irreparable harm absent the issuance of the injunction.”

It was also written by the judge that Bediako had “failed to demonstrate that he has at least a reasonable chance of success on the ultimate merits of those claims” related to the NCAA violating antitrust laws. 

Alabama Crimson Tide center Charles Bediako (14) dunks the ball over Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) and Florida Gators forward Thomas Haugh (10) during the first half. Getty Images

“Common sense won a round today. 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,” NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement following the ruling. “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 had played in five games this season with Alabama, averaging 10.0 points and 4.6 rebounds. 

He had been granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA last month that set the stage for him to be allowed to play in those five games.