NCAA Basketball: Analyzing the key 6 teams for 5-star forward Jarin Stevenson

Alabama Crimson Tide

2023 class option

The Tide are suddenly in huge need of frontcourt players, as starting center Charles Bediako had just opted to stay in the NBA Draft. And Papa Kante, a top-100 center and former target this offseason after he de-committed from Michigan, had picked Pittsburgh this week. That leaves just reserve forward Nick Pringle, along with a pair of four-star incoming freshmen, Sam Walters and Mouhamed Dioubate.

There’s a huge need for someone like Stevenson to come in and he’d be the focal point of the offense. The team would need to add a center regardless but with the five-star on board, that big man could just be another interior presence. The worst-case scenario would be to have Pringle play some at the five-spot.

2024 class option

Alabama doesn’t have any class of 2024 commits at the moment, so the only thing different in this situation is that we’d know how good Walters and Dioubate are. They could be “one and done” players like Noah Clowney or future portal players like Alex Tchikou or Keon Ambrose-Hylton. But in that scenario, the team would be much more prepared to add other transfers to fill out the roster.

This is an option where only 2023 makes sense so if Stevenson really wants to play next season, the Crimson Tide should feel really good.