This is a review column.
High roster turnover is the norm in modern college basketball, and no team is a better example of this than the Alabama Crimson Tide.
After a season that made history by reaching the Final Four, Alabama has already had five departures through the transfer portal since the end of the season, with three additions through the portal so far. It's canceled out.
The roster is far from complete, but things should be updated. He divided the roster into three positions (guard, wing, big) and explained the rankings of each position group and what Alabama needs to do to secure its roster as the rankings continue to drop. To do. place.
bigs
It's been clear since the end of the season that Alabama intends to pursue a true rim-protecting center in the transfer portal, and they appear to have found their top target in Rutgers transfer Clifford Omoruyi. He was one of the best shot blockers in college basketball last season, and had the frame and size to slide perfectly into the role of Charles Bediako, who Alabama was missing last season.
Grant Nelson has not yet made a decision on the NBA draft, but he appears to be aiming to acquire Omoruyi, with the goal of him being a “4'' next to a true center if he returns, even if he plays small. It seems to be a matter of returning to the frame. Last season's ball was “5”. During Nelson's incredible NCAA Tournament run, he primarily played at the “4” next to center Nick Pringle. If Nelson leaves in the draft, expect Jalin Stephenson to step up into a starting role at the “4” after spending another summer getting bigger and stronger.
In terms of depth, Nick Pringle entered the transfer portal, leaving Mohamed Wag as the only true returning “5,” but his role appears to be depth in case of foul trouble. . In front of the Wags, expect five-star freshman Aiden Sherrell to take command for a few minutes at the “5.” Sherrell is very talented, especially on offense, but he would never be wise to rely on a freshman at center.
A smart plan would be to develop Sherrell for a season behind a transfer center, especially as a defensive-minded center, giving him a lot of flexibility in the lineup and not requiring him to do much as a freshman.
A lot of what Alabama wants to do with its big team will depend on whether they can get a true center through the portal. Omoruyi is the first choice, and should be, and is expected to visit Alabama, having just completed a visit to Georgetown last weekend. Even if Omoruyi's acquisition doesn't work out, there are other players I think Alabama should consider in recent days. Ohio State's Felix Okpara, Tennessee's Jonas Aidoo, or Ole Miss' Moussa Cissé.
guard
For this breakdown, we only consider players who can play in the lead guard spot as guards, although there are other “guards” that we classify as wing players.
First of all, Mark Sears has to make his own decision regarding the NBA Draft. If he returns, he will be a preseason All-American and one of the best players in the sport. But whether Sears stays or goes, Alabama will need to bring in another point guard to avoid him having to play nearly 40 minutes a game again, and Aaron・This coincided with the fact that Estrada's eligibility to participate had expired.
That's why Aiden Holloway, who transferred from Auburn, is here. He's a talented kid, but he never put it all together at Auburn, struggling to hit shots from the floor consistently and clearly losing a lot of his confidence in the process. He didn't have a successful freshman year compared to the standards of former five-star players, but that's why he looked for a change of pace.
I don't think Alabama would hire Holloway to be the team's starting point guard. It looks like he'll be in Tuscaloosa as a backup option until he first develops and comes into his own, which I think Alabama's offensive system will help him with a lot. If Sears came back, obviously he would be the starter, but even if he were, he's not. I expect Alabama to bring in an older transfer at the starting point guard position. One likely option is Virginia Tech's Sean Padula, who is reported to be visiting soon.
Then there's Latrell Lightsell. He has yet to make an official announcement that he will return in the year of the pandemic, but he is expected to do so. He will likely be one of the team's veteran returning players next year and slide into a starting role at the 2-guard position, but has the ability to play lead guard if Alabama is in a pinch and really needs him. There is.
The need here is simple. That's the starting point guard. Ideally it would be Sears, and I fully believe Alabama would be willing to compensate him well if he didn't like the feedback in the NBA, but if he chooses to go pro. There's no reason not to believe in Oats' ability to find guards, lead leads and facilitate his offense.
wings
The wing spot, or players who primarily play at 2 or 3, has been the position with the most turnover since the end of the season. Rylan Griffen entering the portal was a big loss, as he was set to take another leap into his junior year as a returning starter, but Sam Walters and Chris Parker also hit the portal, adding to the depth at the position. I lost some of it.
But Oates did a great job replacing what was lost. Chris Youngblood, who was transferred from Pepperdine to the Houston Mallets and transferred to South Florida, shot over 40 percent from 3 last season and was a great scorer, immediately replacing the production lost from Griffen and Walters. Two players to replace.
Mallett and Youngblood are both seniors, and both could be relied upon for starting roles. It also means either can serve as a gunner off the bench and provide more scoring width. Mallett has the length and Youngblood has the size, and at the very least, both should be solid defenders.
The wild card on the wing is five-star Derion Reed. He is the highest-rated player in Alabama's top-five freshman class and is ranked in the top-15 overall in the class. He's not the typical 3-and-D wing that Oats typically employs, but more of a slasher. His 3-point shooting is decent, but his strengths are his inside finishing and versatility.
Reed is expected to be a big-time freshman from day one, which would give Alabama plenty of lineup versatility. Reed could play as a “3'' if Alabama wants to go big, but he also has the slot to play a small-ball “4'' if Alabama wants to put more guards and shooters on the floor. ing.
Depth at the wing spot will come from Mo Diubatte, a defensive stopper and strong rebounder, and Nurse Cunningham, a talented but inexperienced freshman and athletic shot-maker.
There is still room for Alabama to bring in another wing if they wish, but that is by no means a top priority. While there are certainly benefits to acquiring a player who can contribute right away, such as five-star recruit Liam McNeely, who Alabama has been rumored to sign, it's not a necessity with the current roster.
overview
Oats and his staff have done a good job of filling needs and positioning themselves to fill more so far this offseason. Whether it's Sears and Omoruyi or two different options, the center and point guard are must-have additions. But if it's these two, Oats will be putting together one of the best rosters in the country on paper, and expectations will understandably soar.
Check out BamaCentral's 2024-25 Alabama Basketball Roster Tracker for roster details.