EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAlabama basketball player Charles Bediako's college career is over once again after an Alabama circuit judge denied his motion for a preliminary injunction on Monday, ending the 7-footer center's season with the Crimson Tide.Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge Daniel F. Pruet halted Bediako's bid to regain eligibility after he left Alabama for the NBA draft in 2023, signed a two-way NBA contract and played the past three seasons in the G League -- moves that disqualified him from collegiate competition, according to the NCAA.Pruet ruled that Bediako did not have a "reasonable expectation" he would be allowed to return to college basketball when no other player had been granted eligibility under the same circumstances.NCAA president Charlie Baker said in a statement he was glad the court "upheld the rules of our members.""Common sense won a round today," Baker said. "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, who was averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games with Alabama this season, was given a first-of-its-kind second chance to play college basketball last month when another judge granted him a temporary restraining order.That ruling allowed him to join Alabama in the middle of the season -- three years after he had been a defensive anchor for a team that boasted a top-three defense in 2022-23, Bediako's second season with the team before he entered the 2023 NBA draft.In Monday's ruling, Pruet said Bediako did not meet the criteria for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to play the rest of the 2025-26 season because he had "failed to establish that he would suffer irreparable harm," had "failed to establish that he has no adequate remedy at law without the issuance of the injunction" and had "failed to demonstrate that he has at least a reasonable chance of success on the ultimate merits of those claims" that the NCAA had violated antitrust laws in his case.The judge also said the case is "not about whether the Plaintiff can be paid to play basketball, but for whom," citing the money he made at the professional level, after Bediako claimed he would miss out on revenue-sharing opportunities if he wasn't given a chance to return to college basketball.The judge also ruled that Bediako is subject to NCAA rules."To obtain the benefits promised to him for participation in NCAA basketball, the Plaintiff must be eligible to participate in NCAA basketball," the judge said. "Eligibility to participate in the NCAA is controlled by the Defendant's application of the eligibility rules legislated by the NCAA membership."The ruling is a significant victory for the NCAA.After multiple European prospects who'd played professional basketball had been granted eligibility, other players with ties to American pro teams began to seek similar opportunities. Multiple G League players and James Nnaji, a 2023 NBA draft pick, were deemed eligible by the NCAA this season.But the NCAA fought Bediako's case for fear that his renewed eligibility would open the floodgates to allow other athletes with NBA experience to return to college basketball and skirt NCAA rules."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."Bediako's agent, Daniel Green, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ESPN.Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said Friday that regardless of the outcome of the case, Bediako will be allowed to remain on scholarship and work toward a college degree.Alabama (16-7, 6-4 SEC) will visit Ole Miss on Tuesday.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
