Just hours after news broke that Charles Bediako had received a temporary restraining order against the NCAA to rejoin the Alabama basketball program, reports broke that Nate Oats is planning to play him
against Tennessee on Saturday.
Jeff Goodman of On3 had the report on Wednesday night.
Bediako left Alabama following the 2022-23 season, opting to turn pro. He started 67 games during his two-year career before declaring, where he was undrafted. Bediako has since signed three NBA contracts, never appearing in the league, but playing in the G-League as recently as last week. He’s appeared in ten games so far this season, even playing alongside of former Tennessee standout Chaz Lanier in the Pistons’ system.
Alabama coach Nate Oats came out against the new trend of pulling G-Leaguers back to school when Baylor brought back James Nnaji last month.
“I think it’s taking away opportunities from kids coming out of high school,” Oats said of bringing back players who have already turned pro. “I was a high school coach for 11 years. I wanted my kids to get opportunities when they left my program. This is taking opportunities away from those kids.”
Oats will now join the madness, set to play Bediako against Tennessee on Saturday.
The NCAA released a statement on the situation on Tuesday.
“The NCAA is aware of media reports about a lawsuit filed against the NCAA by Charles Bediako,” the NCAA said. “Mr. Bediako signed three NBA contracts after competing in college for two seasons. The NCAA has not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning student-athletes who have signed an NBA contract. Eligibility rules ensure high school students get a shot at earning scholarships, and we will continue to consistently apply and defend these rules.”
“These attempts to sidestep NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have finished their time in college or signed NBA contracts are taking away opportunities from high school students. A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college student-athletes is exactly why Congress must step in and empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules.”
This is just the latest example to fuel the “college-sports-are-dead” crowd. Between this, runaway football NIL and blatant tampering with zero guardrails, there simply are no rules right now. Do whatever you want and figure out the details later, why wouldn’t you? These midseason professional additions will undoubtedly get out of hand and turn into full-blown G-League recruiting next year if it isn’t addressed quickly.
Bediako may end up playing only one game in his return to Alabama with his temporary restraining order — and of course it’s against Tennessee.
