Another former G League player recorded minutes in a college basketball game Saturday, though, in a twist, it wasn\u2019t his first NCAA experience.<\/p>\n
Charles Bediako scored 13 points and grabbed three rebounds in 25 minutes for No. 17 Alabama, though his contribution wasn\u2019t enough to stave off an upset bid from unranked Tennessee. The Volunteers got big games from Nate Ament (29 points) and Ja\u2019Kobi Gillespie (24) on their way to upsetting Alabama 79-73 on the road, just days after Bediako\u2019s eligibility sparked<\/a> another wave of outrage among college hoops stakeholders.<\/p>\n Bediako last suited up for Alabama on March 24, 2023, a 71-64 loss to San Diego State when he scored 10 points and nabbed seven rebounds. He earned SEC All-Tournament Team and All-Defensive honors that season for the Tide, then went pro.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old Canadian went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, but spent three seasons in the G League on a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He was never called up to the Spurs and therefore never logged minutes in an NBA game.<\/p>\n After petitioning the NCAA to use his last year of college eligibility and losing, he again sued the NCAA on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The next day, Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge James H. Roberts Jr. granted Bediako a temporary restraining order, which made him eligible for Saturday.<\/p>\n According to a report by Front Office Sports, Roberts is a six-figure donor<\/a> to Alabama\u2019s athletic department, and his wife is representing former Tide player Darius Miles in a capital murder case.<\/p>\n Bediako\u2019s restraining order came just weeks after NCAA president Charlie Baker issued a strong statement<\/a> about college basketball eligibility, saying the NCAA \u201chas not and will not grant eligibility to any prospective or returning athletes who have signed an NBA contract (including a two-way) contract.\u201d<\/p>\n On Saturday, Bediako entered the game with 16:11 to play in the first half to raucous cheers and scored 26 seconds later on a thunderous dunk off an inbounds play.<\/p>\n Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said postgame that UT\u2019s staff was familiar with Bediako from when he played at Alabama previously, and they were aware he can \u201cgo get lobs, rebounds, change shots\u201d but added, \u201cwe didn\u2019t do one thing different in terms of our scouting report. Nothing changed for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Bediako\u2019s reception was considerably different than that of Baylor\u2019s James Nnaji, another former G Leaguer who made his college debut on Jan. 3 at TCU. The Horned Frogs crowd loudly booed Nnaji when he checked into the game.<\/p>\n CHARLES BEDIAKO THROWS IT DOWN \ud83d\ude24 @AlabamaMBB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zhvFlRrSHr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n A handful of former G League players<\/a> are playing in college this year because of a variety of lawsuits, much to the chagrin of various coaches<\/a>, both current and retired. The fact that Bediako\u2019s been ruled eligible, at least for a week, could unleash chaos<\/a> throughout college hoops.<\/p>\n Bediako is also, arguably, the first former G Leaguer who could have a big impact in college hoops.<\/p>\n At Baylor, Nnaji is playing just 12 minutes per game, averaging 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 points. Thierry Darlan comes off the bench for Santa Clara, a team hunting for an NCAA at-large bid, scoring 6.5 points and grabbing 4.1 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game. BYU\u2019s Abdullah Ahmed snags 4.8 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game. London Johnson at Louisville has not played this season.<\/p>\n