A new judge will be assigned to handle Alabama star Charles Bediako’s eligibility case after the NCAA’s motion to recuse him was granted, ESPN reported. The motion followed a request by the NCAA to remove Judge James H. Roberts Jr. from the case due to his connections to the University of Alabama.

Roberts and his wife, Mary Turner Roberts, are recognized donors to the Alabama Foundation, contributing between $100,000 and $249,999. Despite his last game for Alabama being three seasons ago, Bediako has been impactful in his initial two games since his return.

In his return against Tennessee, Bediako played for 25 minutes and scored 13 points, followed by 14 points, six rebounds, and a steal against Missouri in a 90-64 victory for No. 23 Alabama.

Next, the Crimson Tide will face the reigning national champion No. 19 Florida.

The NCAA’s request noted there was no alleged bias by Roberts; instead, they raised concerns about the appearance of impropriety due to media scrutiny surrounding the university’s athletics programs.

Poll Position Questioned

After the Tennessee game, Alabama fell six spots in the AP Top 25 poll. One voter, Connor Earegood, revealed that he did not rank Alabama due to the Bediako situation, stating, “I will not rank a team that has to circumvent the rules through a court order just to win (and still lost). To me, that’s a team admitting its own weakness.”

Bediako’s Impact

Returning to Bama, Bediako brought vitality to the team’s frontcourt. His impressive return featured 5-of-6 shooting, including four dunks. Head coach Nate Oats emphasized Bediako’s prior elite skills as a rim protector and praised his ongoing development.

Other Coaches Weigh In

Florida’s Todd Golden commented on Bediako’s return, expressing disapproval but acknowledging that his team could still prevail. Meanwhile, Mark Pope of Kentucky highlighted the NCAA’s influence over tournament selections, emphasizing that results involving ineligible players might not count.

Bediako’s journey represents a significant legal dilemma for college basketball, challenging long-standing eligibility rules and setting possible new precedents in NCAA governance.