Yes, it's true. No, I'm not dreaming. Alabama basketball is in a golden age.
If you're waiting to get back to Arby's until bad to mediocre basketball returns to Tuscaloosa, you might be waiting a while. Great basketball isn't always what it seems. In fact, elite basketball is becoming more of a regular menu item in Tuscaloosa than a modern-day tradition.
Fresh off the team's first Final Four appearance in school history, coach Nate Oats and his teammates have put together perhaps the best squad Oats has had in Tuscaloosa. It has that much talent both above and below.
This is despite the impending draft decisions of Alabama All-American guards Jalin Stephenson and Mark Sears, who are testing their spots in the NBA Draft. Will it be significant if Sears comes back? Without a doubt. But Oats and his staff have already made sure Alabama is in a strong position either way. Sears could just be the difference between the Crimson Tide entering the season being a No. 1 team on paper or a top-10 team. Either way, the Crimson Tide will enter the season hoping to compete for the SEC title and advance further in the NCAA Tournament.
Nate Oates:Inside Nate Oats' long and winding journey to the Final Four.
The last four:The best trash talk I heard as Alabama basketball entered the Final Four
When Alabama lost to San Diego State in the 2023 Sweet 16, it felt like the Crimson Tide squandered their best chance to reach the Final Four. They had future No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller and another first-round pick, Noah Clowney. Additionally, they had an elite rim protector (Charles Bediako), the SEC's Sixth Man of the Year (Jahvon Kunally), and plenty of other talent.
But even without any of these players on the roster, Alabama reached the Final Four in 2024. What's great here is that Alabama's roster seems to have gotten better in the past month since the trip to Arizona.
The Crimson Tide's Final Four team lacked a true rim protector. Now that's the case with Rutgers' Cliff Omoruyi. He is the No. 3 center and No. 13 overall player in 247Sports' transfer rankings. His presence will allow Grant Nelson to play more at the No. 4 spot and should allow him to put together more performances like the one against UNC in the Sweet 16.
Omorui is not the only high-quality addition. There's Pepperdine guard Houston Mallett, who shot 41.5 percent from beyond the arc last season. The other is USF's Chris Youngblood, who shot 41.6% from deep a season ago. And then there's Auburn transfer Aiden Holloway, a former five-star guard who Alabama is counting on to help him reach his five-star potential.
These are just additions to the portal.
Alabama also welcomes a strong freshman class, including Derion Reed, Aiden Sherrell, LaBaron Fearon, and Nurse Cunningham. All four are projected to be in the top 50 of the 2024 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite. Both players are five-star prospects.
Whether it's through the portal or through the high school ranks, the University of Alabama continues to regroup. Ace recruiter Preston Murphy continues to play a key role.
Recent offseason moves were a reminder that Alabama basketball under Oats is relevant for multiple seasons. He built something more than just one player. It's not about recruiting one class either. Oats has built a program that continues to succeed, not one that stumbles.
There appears to be no room for complacency in Oates' office. Just trophies and honors. Even if the season passes, that doesn't change.
Welcome to the golden age of Alabama basketball.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for the Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, covering Alabama football and men's basketball. Contact us at nkelly@gannett.com or follow us @_Nick Kelly on the social media app X, formerly known as Twitter..
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