Alabama's Nate Oats Speaks Out on Eligibility Cases of Former Pros

Oats addresses concerns over ex-G League and international players seeking NCAA eligibility

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:39pm

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Alabama head coach Nate Oats has spoken out about the growing trend of former professional basketball players, including Charles Bediako and Amari Bailey, seeking eligibility to play in the NCAA. Oats expressed concerns over the discrepancy in how the NCAA handles cases of international players versus American players who have played professionally, saying "they need to draw a line" on who should be allowed to compete in college basketball.

Why it matters

The eligibility cases of players like Bediako and Bailey raise questions about the fairness of the NCAA's rules and the growing influence of former professionals in the college game. Oats' comments highlight the broader debate around the NCAA's handling of these cases and the potential impact on the competitive balance of college basketball.

The details

Charles Bediako, a 7-foot center who played in the NBA G-League, is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against the NCAA in order to be eligible to play for Alabama. Meanwhile, former Charlotte Hornets guard Amari Bailey has announced his desire to return to college basketball after playing in the NBA. Oats has been supportive of Bediako's case, but expressed concerns over the NCAA's treatment of American players versus international players who have played professionally.

  • Bediako's injunction request was filed in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court on January 20, 2026.
  • Bediako's eligibility case will be heard in court on Friday, February 3, 2026.
  • Bailey announced his plans to return to college on February 1, 2026.

The players

Charles Bediako

A 7-foot center who played in the NBA G-League and is seeking eligibility to play for the University of Alabama.

Amari Bailey

A former Charlotte Hornets guard who is planning to reach out to college teams about playing next season, roughly three years after leaving UCLA for the NBA.

Nate Oats

The head coach of the University of Alabama men's basketball team, who has been supportive of Bediako's case for eligibility.

James Nnaji

A Nigerian national who played professionally overseas before being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2023, representing another case of a former professional seeking NCAA eligibility.

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What they’re saying

“I think everybody should probably be concerned with that. But (the NCAA) need(s) to draw a line, and I think Charles' people thought the line shouldn't have been drawn that's gonna favor all the internationals and not allow the Americans to be able to make the money, and I think that's kind of where they thought the line should be drawn somewhere else.”

— Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach

“What we have now is Americans at 18, 19 (years old) coming out of high school having to compete with 23-year-old freshmen from Europe. You can't play four years of professional basketball, then come over here and our 18, 19-year-old seniors are competing with those guys for scholarships.”

— Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach

“But if everybody else has the opportunity to sign these European pros at 22, 23 with four years of eligibility, then I'm not sure what the difference is (with playing G-Leaguers).”

— Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach

What’s next

Bediako's eligibility case will be heard in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court on Friday, February 3, 2026, where his legal team will present arguments for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against the NCAA.

The takeaway

The eligibility cases of former professional players like Bediako and Bailey highlight the ongoing debate over the NCAA's rules and the growing influence of professionals in college basketball. Oats' comments reflect the broader concerns over the discrepancy in how the NCAA handles cases of international players versus American players, and the potential impact on the competitive balance of the sport.