A G-League player in the Detroit Pistons org is currently trying to return to college basketball
To say Motor City Cruise center Charles Bediako had a long road to arrive in Detroit would be an understatement, and the 23-year old’s story is far from over after a recent court ruling has thrown his entire future with the Cruise into question. Bediako, who is playing in his first season for the Cruise after spending October’s training camp period with the Pistons, is in his third year as a G-League player, but it may be his last.
According to a court ruling that was administered earlier today, Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order, which purports that the one-time member of the Alabama Crimson Tide will be eligible to return to his former collegiate squad.
Back in 2023, Bediako opted to enter the NBA Draft, but the big man lasted two rounds without hearing his name selected. From there, Bediako began his G-League career in Texas with the Austin Spurs before landing with the Grand Rapids Gold for the 2024-25 season.
In terms of his production this season, Bediako averages 5.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in just under 15 minutes per game for the Cruise, so he’s seeing regular minutes as a pro but not as many as he would like. After all, that is the crux of the dilemma here– Bediako is currently a professional basketball player and has played as one for nearly three years now.
ESPN senior college football writer Pete Thamel shared a response from the NCAA earlier today, and the governing body for collegiate sports is adamantly in opposition of the move.
"These attempts to sidestep NCAA rules and recruit individuals who have finished their time in college or signed NBA contracts are taking away opportunities from high school students,” the NCAA replied. “A judge ordering the NCAA let a former NBA player take the court Saturday against actual college student-athletes is exactly why Congress must step in and empower college sports to enforce our eligibility rules."
Given that response, it appears that the Bediako saga is far from over. With Alabama looking to bolster their squad by adding the G-Leaguer ahead of March Madness, the NCAA will likely move to have the court order reversed in the near future, but it is unclear how the situation will play out. At the moment, Bediako has two more years of eligibility as a college athlete.
As for the Crimson Tide, they are ready to welcome back their former center with open arms during the beginning of SEC play.
This is a murky issue for college and professional basketball players alike with a current pro hooper attempting to ditch his current G-League obligations in favor of a second chance to cut down the nets in college.
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