Alabama basketball will add a new name to its roster midseason, but the player is not new to the program.
Former Crimson Tide center Charles Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order and will play his final season on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
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The 7-footer was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2022-23 and declared for the NBA draft that spring. Now, Bediaco has a chance to become a key cog and veteran presence for an Alabama defense that has struggled throughout the 2025-26 season, and he could play as early as this weekend on Jan. 24 when Alabama hosts Tennessee.
Here are three things you need to know as Bediaco returns to red tide.
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Where did Charles Bediako go to high school?
Bediaco was born in Ontario, Canada and attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida before moving to Tuscaloosa. He is a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class and is ranked No. 26 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Who did Charles Bediako play for during his career?
Bediako has signed three Exhibit 10 contracts since going undrafted in 2023, with his first contract with the San Antonio Spurs being converted to a two-way contract. Bediako also signed with the Denver Nuggets and most recently with the Detroit Pistons.
In the G League, Bediaco played for the Austin Spurs, Grand Rapids Goldens and Motor City Crews. Bediako has played in 10 games for the Motor City this season, averaging over 14 minutes per game and averaging 5 points and 5 rebounds per game.
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What did Charles Bediako do in Alabama basketball’s first round game?
Bediaco’s two seasons at Alabama included appearances in the first round and Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He started 67 of 70 games with the Crimson Tide.
Bediaco shot over 68% from the field as a freshman and sophomore and averaged 6.6 points per game in his college career. Defensively, he averaged about 5.2 rebounds per game in his career and 6 rebounds per game in his final season at Alabama.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide sports for The Tuscaloosa News. You can contact her via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared in The Tuscaloosa News: Three things to know about Alabama basketball midseason addition Charles Bediaco
