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Judge Denies Alabama Player's Injunction, Ending His Return to Crimson Tide
Charles Bediako's second stint with Alabama is over after a judge ruled against his request to keep playing.
Feb. 9, 2026 at 6:47pm
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A Tuscaloosa judge denied Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako's motion for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed him to continue playing for the Crimson Tide this season. Bediako had returned to Alabama earlier this year after spending time in the NBA G League, but the judge's ruling means his season is now over.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between the NCAA's rules around player eligibility and the increasing number of players who are trying to return to college basketball after pursuing professional opportunities. The NCAA argued that allowing Bediako to play would 'crowd out the next generation of students' from college sports.
The details
Bediako filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in order to return to Alabama, where he last played during the 2022-23 campaign. He was granted a temporary restraining order in January that allowed him to take the court again with the Crimson Tide, but the judge has now denied his request for a preliminary injunction. Bediako played in five total games for Alabama before the ruling.
- Bediako entered the NBA Draft in 2023 but was not selected.
- Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order in January 2026 that allowed him to return to the Alabama team.
- Bediako made his official return to the Crimson Tide a few days later in a loss to Tennessee.
- The judge denied Bediako's motion for a preliminary injunction on February 9, 2026.
The players
Charles Bediako
A 7-foot center who last played for Alabama during the 2022-23 season before entering the NBA Draft and spending time in the G League. He filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in an attempt to return to the Crimson Tide this season.
Charlie Baker
The president of the NCAA, who said in a statement that 'Common sense won a round today' with the judge's ruling against Bediako's injunction request.
What they’re saying
“Common sense won a round today. 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.”
— Charlie Baker, NCAA President
What’s next
The judge's ruling means Charles Bediako's season with Alabama is now over, and the Crimson Tide will have to finish the year without him.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing challenges the NCAA faces in balancing player eligibility rules with the increasing number of athletes seeking to return to college basketball after pursuing professional opportunities. The judge's decision upholds the NCAA's stance that college sports should be for current students, not former professionals.
