Alabama Basketball Player Fights NCAA Eligibility Ruling

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Charles Bediako, a center for the University of Alabama basketball team, has filed an emergency motion with the Alabama Supreme Court asking for an interim injunction that would allow him to play for the rest of the 2026 season. This comes after a Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge denied Bediako's request for a similar injunction earlier this week.

Why it matters

Bediako's case highlights the ongoing legal battles between student-athletes and the NCAA over eligibility rules. The outcome could set a precedent for how courts handle such disputes in the future, with potential implications for the rights of college athletes.

The details

Bediako played for Alabama for two seasons before turning pro in 2023. He went undrafted, spent three years in the G League, and then returned to college this season. However, the NCAA ruled him ineligible to play, prompting Bediako to file a lawsuit. A temporary restraining order allowed him to play in five games earlier this year, but that was later denied by a judge who is listed as a donor to the Crimson Tide Foundation.

• On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, a Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court judge denied Bediako's request for an interim injunction.
• Later that same day, Bediako filed an emergency motion with the Alabama Supreme Court asking for the same type of interim injunction.

What’s next

The Alabama Supreme Court will decide whether to grant Bediako's emergency motion for an interim injunction that would allow him to play for the remainder of the 2026 season while his case continues to be appealed.