Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
They finally got one right. Well, kind of.
The NCAA ruled weeks ago that former G-League player Charles Bediako will be ineligible for Alabama. Bediako played for the Tide in 2022-2023 before turning pro. Due to some recent maneuvers from foreign born G-League players who were able to gain collegiate eligibility, Alabama tried to do the same for their former player. The NCAA said no, but that decision was met with a temporary restraining order filed by Bediako and his team.
NEW: Former pro Charles Bediako has been denied a preliminary injunction against the NCAA and will no longer be eligible to play for Alabama this season.https://t.co/CWLx9qaYvp https://t.co/0Yo650Ilfw pic.twitter.com/ttzqTyY4a7
— On3 (@On3) February 9, 2026
Unlike some of the other examples, this entire situation was way more messy than it ever was murky. The restraining order was, of course, filed in Tuscaloosa County where Judge James H. Roberts initially oversaw the case. In addition to being a judge, Roberts was a longtime Alabama booster.
Ultimately, he recused himself of his involvement in the case. On Monday afternoon, the official ruling was handed down and Bediako was ruled ineligible.
“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.”
Alabama responded with a statement of their own.
“We are disappointed in today’s court ruling, denying the injunction for Charles Bediako,” the University of Alabama said in a statement. “While we understand the concern around competitive and developmental implications of former professional athletes participating in college, it is important to acknowledge reality. The NCAA has granted eligibility to over 100 current men’s basketball players with prior professional experience in the G League or overseas. Granting eligibility to some former professionals, and not to others, is what creates the havoc we are currently in and why consistency from decision-makers is so desperately needed.”
I’ll never forget this
Thanks for the memories, Charles Bediako pic.twitter.com/WgfnsqvvSy
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) February 9, 2026
Now comes the tricky part. How will Alabama be viewed by the NCAA tournament committee when March rolls around, and what will be done with the three wins Alabama secured with Bediako on the court?
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