Greg Sankey explains role in lawsuit of Alabama basketball's Charles Bediako

When James Nnaji was granted to play at Baylor despite having forgone his college eligibility in 2023, Sankey recalled being "shocked."

Sankey — who noted that he has previously spoken against the "NCAA's blanket waiver" — proceeded to point to Vanderbilt linebacker Langston Patterson's eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA filed in 2025.

"I, and my colleagues, filed an affidavit in that matter," Sankey said. "That was included by the NCAA because the Southeastern Conference is not defending in the Aguilar case. And those are about that fundamental junior college eligibility piece."

To Sankey, Bediako's situation is the "same sort of thing, where we're greatly expanding the NCAA's rules around eligibility."

"Make your own decision to go into the draft, play the G League and then come back, it appears we're going to have more of those, so I'm prepared to do the same thing on those matters," Sankey continued. "Issues of eligibility extensions and hardship waivers, I have not opined upon those. Those generally go through the waiver process."

Sankey clarified that he has commented previously that the "NCAA waiver system creates that problem," and it was one that contributed to the Bediako debacle.

"Everybody wants to point fingers and I think that's done inaccurately," Sankey said.

Alabama coach Nate Oats conveyed disappointment surrounding how Bediako's case was being portrayed in the media and the outcomes of it, but never directly mentioned Sankey, or the inclusion of his affidavit.

On Monday, Sankey said that he "can fully understand the concerns that Nate has expressed."

LOOKING BACK: Nate Oats responds to Greg Sankey's affidavit against Charles Bediako

"I think his (Oats') position on the NCAA's determination of eligibility for those who competed, certainly seems in a professional manner, internationally," Sankey said. "I share that. I've not seen litigation about that, but I share those concerns. And I think that's part of this entire evaluation of eligibility. The NCAA should be engaged upon and come to some conclusions because people need answers."

To Sankey, whether participation in college athletics is part of the "college-going experience" or not isn't "that complicated. Still, he laments not knowing how to advise coaches on what the boundaries are due to a lack of "clarity around the rules."

"That's frustrating for me. And what coaches will do, and I mean this respectfully, is where the boundaries are, they'll push. They'll ask, 'Can I go a step further?'" Sankey said.

"You push back. People get mad. Life goes on."

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Greg Sankey wrote affidavit in Alabama basketball Charles Bediako lawsuit