"Bediako played for Alabama for two seasons in 2021 and 2022 before declaring for the NBA draft. He was not selected, and went on to play three seasons in the G-League after briefly signing a two-way deal-a contract that allows a player to split time between an NBA team and its G-League affiliate-with the San Antonio Spurs. The NCAA tried to bar Bediako from returning to Alabama"
"The NCAA has arbitrarily determined that it is acceptable for a student-athlete to compete professionally (either internationally or straight out of high school) and then compete in college, but it is not acceptable for a student-athlete to compete in college, leave college to pursue a professional career in the U.S., and then return to college as a student-athlete, There is no principled justification for treating these groups of student-athletes differently."
"Just like every arbitrary rule that the NCAA has attempted to apply over its long history, this one didn't stand up to much scrutiny. Bediako's lawyers successfully argued that the NCAA has, for many years, granted eligibility to players who had previously played professional basketball in Europe. Back in December, the NCAA allowed Baylor to sign James Nnaji, a 21-year-old big man who played five seasons at Barcelona before being selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA draft."
An Alabama state judge granted temporary eligibility to Charles Bediako after the NCAA declared him ineligible for previously signing an NBA two-way contract. Bediako played two seasons at Alabama, went undrafted, then spent three seasons in the G-League following a brief two-way deal with the San Antonio Spurs. The NCAA attempted to bar his return on the basis that any prior NBA contract renders a player ineligible. Courts and lawyers pointed to longstanding NCAA practice of allowing former international professionals to return, arguing the NCAA lacks a principled justification for treating these groups differently.
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