Charles Bediako files motion to delay preliminary injunction hearing
By David Wasson
Published:
The Charles Bediako eligibility saga took another twist Wednesday, as the Alabama basketball player’s attorneys filed a motion in Tuscaloosa County court requesting that his preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for Friday be postponed until Feb. 16-18.
The attorneys listed 38 discovery questions for the NCAA that they want answered before the injunction hearing, according to Bama247’s Mike Rodak. Those interrogatories include identifying how many NCAA Division I players currently on rosters played in any professional league prior to being granted eligibility and the total compensation earned by said players.
The restraining order allowing Bediako to compete at Alabama expires Feb. 18. The 6-foot-11 senior departed Alabama in 2023 after his sophomore season to enter the 2023 NBA Draft. After going undrafted, the Canadian-born Bediako competed for the NBA G League’s Austin Spurs from 2023-24 (that included signing a two-way deal with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs) and Grand Rapids Gold from 2024-25.
Bediako, who would be in the final year of eligibility had he stayed at Alabama and taken a redshirt season along the way, returned to the Crimson Tide roster Jan. 21 after being granted a temporary restraining order by a Tuscaloosa County judge – becoming the first player to return to NCAA competition after signing a two-way deal with an NBA team.
Bediako is averaging 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Crimson Tide through three games. Alabama plays host to Texas A&M Wednesday in Tuscaloosa (7 pm, SEC Network).
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
