BACK TO SCHOOL

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Florida men’s basketball team handled Alabama on Sunday 100-77. The Gator student section came as prepared as the team did. The Gator faithful would chant “G-League dropout” at Alabama Center Charles Bediako. Bediako, is currently suing the NCAA to get back his eligibility, despite declaring for the NBA Draft. This season Bediako was averaging 5.2 points per game along with 5.1 rebounds for the Motor City Cruise. Bediako was in his third G-league season also playing for Austin and Grand Rapids.

Bediako’s lawsuit has opened the door for Amari Bailey to try to do the same thing. Bailey, a UCLA standout was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 and played in 10 games for them. He is now seeking to get back to UCLA after a stint in the G-League. 

The NCAA and NBA do have a deal where a player can declare for the draft, and then they can withdraw their name for another year of school. But to declare for the draft and actually play in the G-league and then decide to go back because you got more of an opportunity in college is wrong. Either these guys had bad advice or they weren’t ready, and if that is the case than they should have gone back to school. I loathe a lot of decisions made by the NCAA, but there is no reason these guys should be able to come back. In the NHL and MLB once a player signs an ELC (entry level contract) their college eligibility (playing sports) is over. Just because these guys are unhappy with where they are at after college, doesn’t mean they should go back. Both Bailey and Bediako were one and done meaning they played their Freshman season and then declared for the draft. 

Now, I have never been a fan of the one and done rule personally. I have always felt an individual should play two seasons of college ball before turning pro. I also felt with NIL becoming a big thing in college, there was a chance to see fewer one and done’s. Look, I am not the biggest fan of the NCAA, but these guys gave up their eligibility after declaring for the draft. Had they withdrawn from the process fine, but they’ve actually played a professional ball game, and have given up their eligibility and just because they don’t like where they are doesn’t mean that they should go back to school.