NCAA Basketball: Duke, Alabama, UVA and Michigan finalists for Caleb Houstan

Alabama Crimson Tide

So far in the 2021 recruiting class, we’ve seen programs such as Baylor and Florida State lead the way, landing multiple five-star prospects seemingly out of nowhere. The next team to follow that may be Alabama, who under head coach Nate Oats has taken the recruiting to the next level.

This offseason alone, the Tide has landed four-star freshman big man Alex Tchikou, four-star 2021 wing Jusaun Holt and most recently, five-star point guard JD Davison. That move sent shockwaves and could set up a major overall class.

Houstan’s surge to add Alabama creates a potentially powerful 2021 group. Besides who they already have, the Tide is the rumored favorite for Charles Bediako, a five-star center prospect and fellow Canadian, part of a new pipeline Coach Oats is trying to create.

There’s a big opening for Houstan as a freshman with Alabama as well. Senior Alex Reese and Yale grad transfer Jordan Bruner will be graduating, as will John Petty and Herb Jones, who have played some at the undersized forward spot previously. The five-star forward can easily start, potentially with Bediako in the frontcourt for 2021-22.

Considering where Houstan is from, playing for a natural “blue blood” may not mean as much, which greatly benefits Alabama in this situation. Between that and immediate playing time, the Crimson Tide could have a great shot in this one.