Alabama’s Charles Bediako scores 13 in first game back from G League

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.

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One of the more notable performances of the day came from someone who was playing in the G League a week ago.

REQUIRED READING: ‘Utterly ridiculous.’ Tom Izzo takes aim at Alabama over Charles Bediako case

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.

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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.

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Publish date : 2026-01-25 17:28:00

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