How Charles Bediako Fared In First Game Back With Alabama After Controversial Return

Charles Bediako connected Saturday made his arguable return to assemblage hoops aft a Tuscaloosa, Ala. judge cleared him to return to squad activities pinch Alabama.

And Bediako, playing successful his first crippled for nan Crimson Tide since March of 2023, wasted nary clip successful making an impact.

With 16:11 remaining successful nan first half, Bediako checked into nan crippled against Tennessee to a monolithic ovation from nan fans astatine Coleman Coliseum—and needed conscionable 26 seconds to people his first basket. Out of an inbounds, Bediako, aft mounting a screen, rolled to nan basket, caught nan walk from Crimson Tide defender Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and emphatically dunked nan shot arsenic nan crowd roared.

Sweeney: Why nan NCAA Should Fight nan Charles Bediako Eligibility Case

All told, Bediako vanished pinch 13 points, nan mostly of which came connected dunks, on pinch 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals successful 25 minutes of action. Overall, Bediako was progressive connected some ends successful his clip connected nan court, and was peculiarly effective successful nan pick-and-roll game, wherever his 7-foot framework made for an appealing lob target and easy bucket successful nan painted area for playmaking Crimson Tide defender Labaron Philon Jr. Alabama would yet driblet nan crippled to nan Volunteers, 79–73.

His acquisition playing master hoops was, arsenic 1 would expect, an plus for him against Tennessee, arsenic he looked nan portion of a polished hoops player. And Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats’s spot successful Bediako was evident, arsenic nan 23-year-old played meaningful minutes down nan agelong successful nan 2nd half for Alabama successful a adjacent crippled successful his first collegiate action successful complete 2 years.

Bediako is nan first subordinate pinch collegiate acquisition to participate nan NBA draft, motion a statement pinch a pro squad and past return to nan assemblage game. He spent 2 seasons pinch nan Crimson Tide from 2021 to ’23, and was a cardinal cog of 1 of nan champion protect teams successful nan state successful what had been his last assemblage season. Bediako was named to nan SEC’s all-defensive squad that year. The Brampton, Ontario, autochthonal past declared for nan NBA draft, went undrafted and signed a two-way woody pinch nan Spurs, which led to him spending nan past 3 years successful nan G League.

Bediako’s arguable return to Alabama comes aft he sued nan NCAA successful an effort to summation reinstatement to subordinate nan Crimson Tide and play retired nan last half-season of his five-year eligibility timepiece during nan remainder of nan 2025–26 season.

A Tuscaloosa judge granted Bediako a impermanent restraining order, making him instantly eligible for each squad activities. The impermanent restraining bid is valid for 10 days and location will beryllium a afloat proceeding connected Bediako’s petition for a preliminary injunction connected Tuesday.

Bediako’s return has been met pinch widespread disapproval from rival assemblage hoops coaches. In a connection earlier this week, nan NCAA reiterated its stance that it would not let a subordinate who signed an NBA statement to play collegiate basketball.

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