Overview
- Judge James H. Roberts Jr. in Tuscaloosa County issued a temporary restraining order allowing Bediako to practice and play for 10 days while the case proceeds.
- The NCAA reiterated it will not grant eligibility to anyone who has signed an NBA contract, noting Bediako signed three, and cited its track record defending eligibility rules in court.
- Bediako, undrafted in 2023, signed two-way and Exhibit 10 deals and played in the G League, has re-enrolled at Alabama, and the university publicly supports his reinstatement.
- His complaint argues the NCAA applies rules inconsistently, pointing to recent clearances for players who had pro experience but never signed NBA contracts, including James Nnaji, Thierry Darlan, London Johnson and Abdullah Ahmed.
- If the order remains in place, Bediako could debut as soon as Saturday against Tennessee, and a ruling in his favor could influence future challenges by former pros returning to college within the five-year eligibility window.