DETROIT – Charles Bediako, 23, a former Motor City Cruise player, has received a temporary restraining order allowing him to return to college basketball with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
A judge ruled Wednesday (Jan. 21) that Bediako, who played six games for the Cruise this season, 34 games with the Grand Rapids Gold in 2025, and six games with the Austin Spurs in 2024, will immediately rejoin Alabama’s basketball program.
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Bediako went undrafted out of Alabama in the 2023 NBA draft.
Despite having two years of eligibility remaining, he never played in an NBA regular-season game.
During his college career, Bediako played on two NCAA tournament teams with Alabama in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
Bediako played in five NBA preseason games dating back to 2023, including two with the Detroit Pistons last season, before getting waived on Oct. 15, 2025.
On Tuesday, Bediako filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after it denied Alabama’s appeal to allow him to return to college basketball.
Hours before the judge’s ruling, NCAA President Charlie Baker stated that players who have already signed NBA contracts, including Bediako, would not be granted eligibility to play at the collegiate level.
The temporary restraining order is effective through Jan. 27.
NBC Sports reports that a hearing on Bediako’s motion for an injunction pending the lawsuit’s settlement will be held then.
Other players have rejoined college athletics after signing NBA contracts, such as James Nnaji, the 31st overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, who joined the Baylor Bears this season.
Nnaji’s path differed from Bediako’s, as he had no prior college experience before joining Baylor.
Puff Johnson didn’t sign an NBA contract, but he has joined Ohio State and could have a chance to play against the Michigan Wolverines on Friday, Jan. 23.
Before going undrafted, Bediako earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team in 2022.
Bediako also made the All-Defensive and All-Tournament teams during the 2023 season.
Notably, he scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds against the North Carolina Tar Heels, helping Alabama advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
In the 2023 season, Bediako started 37 games for the No. 1-seeded Crimson Tide.
Over his college career, Bediako averaged 6.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.