An Alabama Circuit Court judge ruled a former NBA player is not eligible to return to Alabama University for NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) money.
Judge Daniel Pruet denied Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako’s motion to allow him to play for the rest of the season.
A temporary restraining order allowed the former NBA G League player to join the Alabama Crimson Tide in the middle of the season.
The 23-year-old center averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in five games for Alabama.
NCAA eligibility rules allows players who already graduated from college to continue playing. But critics say the eligibility rules come at the expense of high school athletes.
NCAA President Charlie Baker said the judge’s ruling was a “common sense” decision.
“Common sense won a round today,” Baker said. “The court saw this for what it is: an attempt by professionals to pivot back to college and crowd out the next generation of students. College sports are for students, not for people who already walked away to go pro and now want to hit the ‘undo’ button at the expense of a teenager’s dream. While we’re glad the court upheld the rules our members actually want, one win doesn’t fix the national mess of state laws. It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability.”
Athletes who continue to play after graduating from college include Miami University quarterback Carson Beck, 23, who graduated from the University of Georgia 2 years ago.
Carson earned $3 million in NIL money at the University of Miami in 2025.
