Former Tide Hoops Player Suing NCAA To Return

According to a report by Matt Stahl of AL.com, former Alabama men's basketball player Charles Bediako is suing the NCAA, asking for immediate preliminary and permanent injunctive relief that would allow him to return to the Crimson Tide men's basketball team.

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Per Stahl's report, Bediako filed the request in the Tuscaloosa Circuit Court on Tuesday. His request notes that he was not selected in the 2023 NBA draft after leaving Alabama. Bediako has only played in the NBA G-League and has not appeared in any NBA games during his professional career.

The complaint reads:

"Had Mr. Bediako had more foresight to see the paradigm-shifting changes coming to compensation for NCAA athletes, he likely would still be on campus playing for the University of Alabama right now. When the NCAA recently began to reinstate players with G League experience, and even players who had entered and been selected in the NBA Draft, Mr. Bediako saw this as a chance to right a wrong decision that he had regretted over the past three years.”

Bediako, a 6-foot-11, 215-pound center from Brampton, Ontario, in Canada, spent two seasons with the Crimson Tide under head coach Nate Oats, starting 67 of 70 possible games. During his time in Tuscaloosa, Bediako averaged 19.4 minutes per game, shooting 48.8% from the floor, and scoring 6.6 points per game. He also contributed 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for Oats and the Crimson Tide. He was named to the SEC All-Defensive team during the 2022-23 season.

Tide 100.9 can confirm that Bediako has already enrolled in classes at the University of Alabama, and he is attempting to return to the court this season. According to AL.com, he is requesting an immediate order to stop the NCAA from keeping him out of games.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.