All indications are Nate Oats and the Alabama basketball program were caught off-guard by Charles Bediako’s decision to remain in the 2023 NBA Draft. After participating in the G League Combine, Bediako did not gain an invite to the NBA Draft Combine. The chance he will be a late second-round selection in June is slim. Nate Oats and his staff had good reason to believe Bediako would return to Tuscaloosa for a third college season.
Suddenly Alabama Basketball has three scholarships available and only one returning big man.
Apparently whatever Bediako was expected to earn in NIL money will at least be matched and possibly exceeded by an NBA two-way contract of up to $500K-plus.