Judge Hears Arguments In Injunction Hearing For Charles Bediako

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Pruet heard arguments Friday morning from both sides in the civil case of Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako, who is requesting an injunction that would allow him to continue to play college basketball after spending two years playing professionally.

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As Patch previously reported, the case centers on Bediako’s eligibility to compete for Alabama after the NCAA challenged his eligibility status. The latest hearing also comes after Circuit Court Judge James Roberts, who initially presided over the case, opted to recuse himself after news surfaced that he had donated money to the University of Alabama athletic department.

Bediako has appeared in four games for the Crimson Tide since his surprising return, averaging 9.5 points and shooting .706 from the floor.

Attorneys for Bediako argue that while the NCAA claims it stands as a guardian for its student-athletes, it does little to protect them, especially in a college basketball ecosystem that allows foreign-born players to compete professionally overseas before coming to the United States to play college basketball.

Indeed, Bediako's attorney David Holt pointed out that around 80% of the teams in the Associated Press Top 25 in men's college basketball have former professionals in their lineups.

Still, the question persisted, even from Judge Pruet, about Bediako's individual circumstances, which saw him play two years at Alabama before departing for the NBA G League after going undrafted and then requesting reinstatement to an NCAA member program.

It was also mentioned that Bediako had made $530,000 in the three years since he left UA.

Holt argued Friday that denying the injunction would not only take Bediako off of the court but out of the classroom. The argument was then made that the injunction would "protect him while a record is established."

To that end, the Crimson Tide big man's legal counsel said the standard is not to prove his case today but show he has a reasonable chance to win the case if it goes to trial.

"If Mr. Bediako is not granted this injunction, he's done," Holt said.

The NCAA was represented by Tuscaloosa attorney Cason Kirby, along with Nashville attorneys Taylor Askew and David Zeitlin.

Askew pointed out the fact Bediako conceded he is "uniquely situated" in his push for reinstatement before arguing that the rules at the center of the debate do not come directly from the NCAA but are rules that are drafted and agreed upon by its member institutions — including the University of Alabama.

"[UA] had their hand in the drafting of it," he said. "The NCAA isn't a separate thing. It's its members."

Discussion then turned to changes in revenue sharing as the main reason Bediako is seeking to play his last full year of collegiate eligibility apart from finishing his education.

Askew said Bediako is not being barred from competition or developing as a basketball player, but would miss out on the payouts from revenue sharing in the new age of name, image and likeness (NIL).

Askew capped off his arguments by underscoring what he believed were two key distinctions for ruling on Bediako's case: That he signed an NBA contract and participated in NBA competition.

"When [his professional contract] was signed, he was ineligible," he said. "It wasn't the NCAA impeding on his contract."

Judge Pruet said he would issue a ruling "soon" but did not provide an exact timetable for when that may be.

The Crimson Tide men's basketball team is set to return to action on Saturday at Auburn, with tipoff set for 3 p.m.

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