Alabama center Charles Bediako goes through pre-draft workouts with multiple NBA teams

Alabama center Charles Bediako is generating plenty of interest from NBA teams in the pre-draft process. According to NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock, Bediako has already worked out with the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, and San Antonio Spurs.

Additionally, he also has workouts scheduled with the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, and Cleveland Cavaliers have also requested a workout with Bediako, per his agent.

A sophomore this past season, Bediako started all 37 games for Alabama and was named to the SEC’s All-Defensive team. He averaged 6.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game across 20.7 minutes. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2021-22 after averaging 1.5 blocks in 17.8 minutes per game.

Bediako played perhaps his best basketball of the season during the SEC Tournament in March. He averaged 11.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game to help the Crimson Tide claim the tournament title. Bediako scored double figures in all three games and twice recorded five blocks as he was named to the All-SEC Tournament team.

In addition to his workouts, Bediako is also slated to participate in the NBA G League Elite Camp on Saturday and Sunday in Chicago. The top performers from that will receive invites to the NBA Draft Combine May 16-18.

Bediako is projected as a second-round draft pick according to most NBA mocks. He is still eligible to withdraw from the draft and return to Alabama to improve his stock, but must do so before the June 12 deadline.

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.