Judge Charles denied Bediako’s request to play for Alabama

Charles Bediako’s latest attempt to play college basketball again this season was denied Tuesday by an Alabama judge who ruled against his request to return to the Crimson Tide, according to documents obtained by ESPN.

On Monday, Bediako’s legal team simultaneously asked the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court and the Alabama Supreme Court for “interim injunctive relief” to allow him to return to college basketball as his appeal moves forward weeks after Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruett denied his request for a rest. 2025-26 campaign.

Pruett is the same judge who denied Bediako’s request for interim injunctive relief on Tuesday. Alabama law says Bediako first had to ask a local court before the Alabama Supreme Court, which is also evaluating his appeal, could rule on the same request for interim injunctive relief.

In their latest legal push, Bediako’s lawyers argued Monday that an appeal of that ruling would not be completed by the end of the season, which would have kept Bediako out of the NCAA tournament.

David Holt, an attorney for Bediaco, told ESPN on Monday about their appeal under the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, “The substance of our argument is that the Alabama Supreme Court considers why the circuit court’s order was erroneous and requests an injunction.”

Holt did not respond to ESPN’s request for comment after Tuesday’s ruling.

Bediako, a former G League standout who also signed multiple NBA contracts, averaged 10 points in five games for Alabama — three years into his first stint with the team from 2021-2023. In the 2022–23 season, Bediako was a key player on a Crimson Tide team that played a top-three defense that season.

The Crimson Tide went 3-2 this season with Bediako on the roster.

Although former European professional, G League player and 31st pick in the 2023 NBA draft James Naji was allowed to play college basketball this season, Bediako is the first player to return to college basketball after signing an NBA contract after a different local judge ordered a temporary ban on him from competing.

The unprecedented move sparked widespread criticism from the game’s top stakeholders and prompted the NCAA to release a statement accusing players like Bediako of “bending” NCAA rules and trying to take away opportunities from high school players.

Judge Pruitt ruled earlier this month that Bediako — and others like him — cannot go to the NBA and then return to college basketball.

“In order to receive the benefits promised to him in order to participate in NCAA basketball, the plaintiff must be eligible to participate in NCAA basketball,” Pruitt said earlier this month in denying Bediako’s initial request for a preliminary injunction.