A Tuscaloosa circuit court has rejected center Charles Bediako’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have cleared him to rejoin the University of Alabama men’s basketball team, according to reports from AL.com and ESPN.
Judge Daniel F. Pruet ruled that Bediako could not reasonably expect the NCAA to restore his eligibility, noting no player has ever returned to college competition after signing NBA contracts. Bediako, undrafted in 2023, inked three Exhibit 10 deals—one later converted to a two-way pact—but never appeared in an NBA game. He was attempting to become the first player to play NCAA basketball after signing professional contracts with NBA clubs.
NCAA president Charlie Baker called the decision “a win for common sense.” Bediako’s attorney, Darren Heitner, expressed disappointment, arguing the ruling overlooks the athlete’s ability to earn name-image-likeness income tied to on-court participation. Heitner said Bediako is weighing a potential appeal.
Additional notes
Zaccharie Risacher of the Hawks has been added to the NBA Rising Stars game as an injury replacement for Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, who is dealing with an abdominal strain. Risacher will join Team T-Mac on Friday during All-Star Weekend.
Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News has heard informal chatter that the NBA’s Board of Governors could vote this summer on expanding the league by two teams. Seattle and Las Vegas remain widely viewed as the leading candidates if expansion proceeds.
Forward Nigel Hayes-Davis, waived by the Bucks last week, appears close to returning to the EuroLeague. Hapoel Tel Aviv is considered the frontrunner to sign him, while Fenerbahce is also interested but reportedly offering less.
Source: Hoops Rumors
