In a case that’s captured national attention, Alabama center Charles Bediako’s bid to keep playing college basketball has come to an abrupt end—at least for now. On February 9, 2026, Tuscaloosa Circuit Judge Daniel Pruet denied Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction, dissolving the temporary restraining order that had briefly restored his eligibility with the Crimson Tide. The decision not only sidelines Bediako for the remainder of the season but also reignites debate about the NCAA’s rules on former professionals returning to the college ranks.
Bediako, a 7-foot center who last played for Alabama during the 2022-23 campaign, left college in 2023 to enter the NBA draft. Though undrafted, he spent the next three seasons in the NBA’s developmental G League, even suiting up for the Motor City Cruise in six games this year. But when he sought to return to Alabama, the NCAA denied his eligibility request, citing its long-standing rule: once a player signs a professional contract and leaves for the NBA, there’s no going back to college basketball.
Undeterred, Bediako filed a lawsuit against the NCAA on January 20, 2026, asserting claims under Alabama’s antitrust laws and for tortious interference. He argued that the NCAA’s determination was arbitrary and inconsistent, especially given that more than 100 current men’s basketball players with prior professional experience—many from the G League or overseas—have been granted eligibility. “Granting eligibility to some former professionals and not to others is what creates the havoc we are currently in and why consistency from decision-makers is so desperately needed,” the University of Alabama said in a statement following the ruling.
Initially, Bediako found a lifeline. On January 21, 2026, a temporary restraining order (TRO) allowed him to rejoin Alabama’s active roster, and he wasted no time making an impact. In his first game back, a loss to Tennessee, Bediako posted 13 points and three rebounds. Over five games, he averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 21.6 minutes per contest. Alabama went 3-2 during his return, including a notable win over rival Auburn. Yet, the legal fight continued off the court.
The TRO, initially granted by Judge James H. Roberts, was extended twice due to a winter snowstorm that delayed court proceedings. However, controversy soon followed: Roberts recused himself from the case after revelations surfaced that he was an active donor to Alabama athletics. The case was reassigned to Judge Pruet, who presided over a contentious hearing on February 6, 2026. Attorneys for both Bediako and the NCAA laid out their arguments, with Bediako’s legal team insisting that he would be unable to continue his academic career without the injunction. Alabama’s head coach, Nate Oats, countered publicly, promising, “Alabama would ‘100 percent’ keep Bediako on scholarship regardless of Judge Pruet’s ruling.”
In his written order, Judge Pruet concluded that Bediako failed to meet the legal standards required for injunctive relief. He determined that Bediako had not demonstrated irreparable harm, noting that any lost income from revenue-sharing could be compensated monetarily and that there was no evidence Bediako would be unable to attend college absent the injunction. The judge also found no reasonable likelihood of success on the merits of Bediako’s antitrust and tortious interference claims, stating that Alabama antitrust law may not even apply to conduct outside the state and that the NCAA is not a legal stranger to eligibility contracts governed by its own rules.
Perhaps most significantly, Pruet warned that granting the injunction could undermine the NCAA’s eligibility rules and open the floodgates for similar challenges nationwide—a move he deemed too risky for the stability of college sports. “The rules do not permit a student-athlete to participate in collegiate basketball, leave for the NBA, and return to the collegiate arena. All the evidence in the record indicates that (the NCAA) has consistently applied this specific rule,” Pruet wrote.
The NCAA, for its part, was quick to celebrate the decision. In a statement, NCAA president Charlie Baker declared, “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.” Baker also called on Congress to intervene, arguing, “One win doesn’t fix the national mess of state laws. It’s time for Congress to stop watching from the sidelines and help us provide some actual stability.”
Not everyone was satisfied with the outcome. The University of Alabama expressed disappointment, emphasizing the inconsistency in how the NCAA applies its eligibility rules. Alabama coach Nate Oats, who has publicly supported Bediako throughout the ordeal, reiterated his stance: “Charles has done nothing wrong. Charles and his agent and his attorneys have seen what’s going on in the landscape of college basketball and all the former pros that are playing. Just about everybody we play’s got one. And they’ve seen who the NCAA has allowed to be eligible and they didn’t see any reason why Charles wouldn’t be eligible, and I agree with them.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey also weighed in, filing an affidavit in support of the NCAA’s position. He stressed that upholding NCAA rules is essential to the integrity of college sports and the opportunities they provide for current and future student-athletes. “Upholding NCAA rules inconsistently fuels disruption in college sports,” Sankey cautioned.
For now, the Crimson Tide must forge ahead without their big man in the paint. Alabama enters its next contest against Ole Miss with a 16-7 record, sitting fifth in the SEC standings and with eight regular-season games left. The team’s NCAA tournament prospects will hinge on the available roster—a reality that underscores the high stakes of eligibility decisions in today’s rapidly evolving college basketball landscape.
As for Bediako, his lawsuit against the NCAA remains pending, and the possibility of an appeal is still on the table. But with the temporary restraining order now expired as of February 10, his second run with Alabama is officially over, at least for this season. The five games he played under the TRO cannot be vacated, as he was legally eligible during that stretch. The story of Charles Bediako’s fight for eligibility may not be finished, but for the Crimson Tide and college basketball fans alike, it’s a stark reminder of the tangled web of rules, legal battles, and personal dreams that define the modern game.