The dozens of men’s college basketball games that took place on Saturday, Jan. 24 were defined by a slew of eyebrow-raising efforts from what’s being hailed as the best freshman class in years.
Illinois’ Keaton Wagler scored 46 points – more than double his previous career high – in an upset win at No. 4 Purdue, projected No. 1 overall NBA draft pick AJ Dybantsa poured in a career-high 43 points in BYU’s victory over rival Utah and even in a losing effort, Houston’s Kingston Flemings had 42 points in a loss at No. 12 Texas Tech. According to ESPN research, it marked the first time in at least 20 years that multiple freshmen scored 40 or more points in a single day.
One of the more notable performances of the day came from someone who was playing in the G League a week ago.
In his first college game since 2023, Alabama’s Charles Bediako had 13 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 25 minutes in a 79-73 loss to Tennessee.
Bediako’s return had been one of the most controversial and breathlessly discussed subjects in the sport for much of the week. After playing two seasons for Alabama, from 2021-23, the seven-foot center declared for the NBA draft and played the next three seasons in the G League, most recently for the Motor City Cruise. Though Bediako has been playing professional basketball for the past three years, he has never played in an NBA game.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, he filed a request to Tuscaloosa County (Alabama) Circuit Court for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction, with a Judge James Roberts Jr. granting a temporary restraining order the following day that made Bediako immediately eligible to suit up for coach Nate Oats and the No. 17 Crimson Tide.
Under the terms of the restraining order, Bediako is eligible until his next injunction hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 27, which means the Tennessee loss could end up being the only game he plays.
‘Right now I’m just focused on the team,’ Bediako said after the game. ‘Obviously, I’m just going to take what happened today, just continue to do the film, and right now our main focus is on this next game (against Missouri).’
Bediako made five of his six field-goal attempts in the loss to the Volunteers.
He was much more productive than many other former G League players who have joined college basketball teams for this season. Thierry Darlan is averaging just 6.5 points per game for Santa Clara, big man Abdullah Ahmed is averaging only 2.8 points in 14.8 minutes per game for No. 13 BYU, and London Johnson has yet to play in a game for No. 21 Louisville. James Nnaji, a seven-foot center who was selected in the 2023 NBA Draft and has played professionally in Europe, has only 10 points in six games for Baylor.
The trend of former professional players joining the college ranks has earned ire from across the sport and from the NCAA itself, which voiced its disapproval with the judge’s ruling on Bediako.
‘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 said in a statement on Wednesday. ‘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.’
How old is Charles Bediako?
Born on March 10, 2002, Bediako is 23 years old.
Charles Bediako stats
Since leaving Alabama, Bediako appeared in 82 G League games across three seasons with the Austin Spurs, Grand Rapids Gold and Motor City Cruise.
Here’s a look at his stats from his professional career:
2023-24 (Austin): 5.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in 14.6 minutes per game
2024-25 (Grand Rapids): 9.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game
2025-26 (Motor City): 4.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 15.1 minutes per game
