BREAKING: Tuscaloosa Judge Denies Charles Bediako’s Injunction

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet has reached a verdict on Charles Bediako's eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA. Per court documents, Pruet has denied Charles Bediako's injunction, resulting in Bediako no longer being eligibile to play for Alabama for the remainder of the season.

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The hearing for Bediako against the NCAA took place on Friday, February 6, with Bediako's lawyer, David Holt, and NCAA lawyer Taylor Askew both making their arguments in front of Judge Pruet and media members in Tuscaloosa. Bediako's attorney, David Holt, argued that Bediako would be unable to continue his academic career if he did not receive the injunction, but Alabama head coach Nate Oats countered that argument during his Friday media availability, saying Alabama would '100 percent' keep Bediako on scholarship regardless of Judge Pruet's ruling.

Pruet's denial is a denial of a preliminary injunction, meaning Bediako could appeal the decision. For the time being, however, Bediako is ineligible to play for Alabama for the remainder of the season after playing in five games for the Crimson Tide, where he averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game on 21.6 minutes played per game.

Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order, which allowed him to play for Alabama for 10 days. The TRO was extended another 10 days after attorneys for the NCAA could not get to Tuscaloosa due to the winter snowstorm that ravaged the southeast during the final week of January, when Bediako's hearing was originally set to take place in front of Judge Daniel Pruet. The TRO expires on February 10, meaning Bediako will no longer be allowed to play for Alabama this season.

The five games Bediako played in can not be vacated, as Bediako was eligible under the temporary restraining order, which was issued by a judge. The NCAA can not vacate those games due to the legal process that Bediako went through to get the TRO.

NCAA president Charlie Baker released a statement on Bediako's denial by Judge Pruet:

"Common sense won a round today," Baker's statement 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.”

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_.