Charles Bediako Returns to College Basketball
Another former pro basketball player is back in the classroom. Charles Bediako, who has spent several seasons in the G League, recently played his first game since returning to college against Tennessee, where Alabama lost 79-73.
In that game, Bediako contributed with 13 points, hitting 5 of his 6 shots, along with two steals and two blocks—all within 25 minutes off the bench.
At just 23 years old, he was granted a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, allowing him to jump right back into college basketball. This makes him the first player to re-enter the NCAA after signing a contract with the NBA.
Alabama’s head coach Nate Oats commented on Friday, “We’re going to play him. He is eligible to play. We will comply with the court’s order.”
Bediako, a towering 7-foot-3 center, had played for the Crimson Tide during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons before leaving school to explore the NBA Draft. Unfortunately, he went undrafted and hasn’t made an appearance in an NBA game, but has been active in the G League over the past three seasons with different teams, most recently with the Motor City Cruise, which is the Pistons’ G League affiliate.
Oats remarked that Bediako still has five years until he graduates from high school. He also compared Bediako’s situation to European players who played professionally before entering college basketball. “Given that the NCAA has allowed professional participation, nearly every team in the league features a former professional player. So how could I tell Charles and our team that I won’t support them if they’re legally eligible to play?” he asked.
While with Alabama, Bediako earned recognition as part of the SEC All-Freshman team and averaged 6.4 points along with 6.0 rebounds during his second season.
His comeback to college basketball follows Baylor’s James Nagy’s return to the NCAA earlier this month, after being picked by the Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft but not signing with any team, which opened the door for him to return to college.
