"Hours before his second collegiate debut after a stint as a two-way player in the NBA, and a G League standout, Charles Bediako said Alabama could win a national title with him on the roster. The 7-foot center played two years with the Crimson Tide in 2021-22 and 2022-23 before not being selected in the 2023 NBA draft. "[Head coach Nate Oats] has a plan," Bediako told Yea-Alabama.com, a website for the school's NIL collective."
"Days after he scored four points and grabbed three rebounds in the Motor City Cruise's win over the Birmingham Squadron in the G League last Saturday, a Tuscaloosa judge cleared Bediako this week to play college basketball even though he'd already played multiple years in the G League and signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs following the 2023 NBA draft."
"Bediako, however, is the first player with collegiate experience to sign an NBA contract and get the chance to return to college basketball. Tuesday's preliminary injunction hearing for Bediako, who is expected to play in Alabama's matchup against Tennessee on Saturday night, could alter the framework of college basketball and the NBA draft and perhaps open the door for more players with NBA experience to pursue another stint in college."
Charles Bediako returned to Alabama after two seasons (2021-22, 2022-23) with the Crimson Tide and going unselected in the 2023 NBA draft. He signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs and spent time in the G League, recently scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds for the Motor City Cruise. A Tuscaloosa judge cleared him to play college basketball despite prior professional experience. Bediako is the first former collegiate player who signed an NBA contract to regain college eligibility. A preliminary injunction hearing could influence NCAA and NBA draft procedures and future player pathways.
Read at ESPN.com
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