What has transpired in Tuscaloosa in recent years is truly an incredible job by Nate Oats and the various members of his coaching staffs. Inheriting a largely irrelevant SEC program, he has continued to build great teams with the Crimson Tide, making five trips to the Sweet Sixteen or further already in his first seven years with a whole bunch of notable wins along the way.
While Alabama couldn’t quite match 2024’s Final Four run, this past season was a fourth straight trip to the Sweet Sixteen and a 25-10 finish. The Crimson Tide tied for 2nd in the SEC standings, incredibly finishing top 3 for a fourth season in a row. It’s been consistent winning from the jump in a conference that as a whole has improved dramatically over the last half decade.
Success keeps happening
Part of why this program just keeps trucking along is the success that this staff has had bringing in new players and coaching up those already on campus. Labaron Philon was a star but is now off to the NBA, though the next big thing for the Crimson Tide is already right there in this rotation. Alabama also had to replace outgoing talent like Latrell Wrightsell and Aiden Sherrell but the answers are all here and you’ll see shortly.
Combining an incredible recruiting class with some very notable transfers, Alabama should be right back in the thick of things in the SEC race. Oats has lost star players, incredible assistants, and seen the very fabric of this sport change, but he just keeps producing winning formulas and fantastic teams and we’ll see if this group can continue that momentum.
Projected Starters
Guard – Aden Holloway (Senior)
A major star in the making, Holloway is a 6-1 point guard and former Top 20 recruit who actually began his career at rival Auburn before landing with the Crimson Tide. Last year was his second season in Tuscaloosa and he really showed up, averaging 16.8 points and 3.8 assists while making 44% of his 3-pointers. There’s potential for even showier numbers as the top option for Alabama as a senior.
Guard – Amari Allen (Sophomore)
Another major returner from last season, Allen is a 6-7 wing from Green Bay and another highly-regarded prospect. In his first year of college ball he put up 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds largely as a starter for the Crimson Tide, though many are expecting another step forward into year two. He’s a versatile athlete with great size and a playmaker on both sides of the ball.
Forward – London Jemison (Sophomore)
Last year’s great freshman class included Jemison, and the 6-8 forward is ready to contribute at an even higher level as a sophomore. Year one saw him average 6.2 points and 3.4 rebounds with solid shooting numbers, though we’ll be seeing a lot more of him on the court in this role. He has great athleticism for his size and impressive tools already, though a year of development might have made him a monster in this frontcourt.
Forward – Drew Fielder (Senior)
Fielder is a significant transfer addition that the Crimson Tide expect big things from in his fourth collegiate campaign. He spent a pair of seasons in the Big East at Georgetown before standing out with Boise State last year, contributing 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds while leading the Mountain West in field goal percentage. He wasn’t Second Team All-MWC on accident and is a fantastic shooter and rebounder who fits the mold of what Alabama seeks in this frontcourt.
Forward – Brandon Garrison (Senior)
Another big splash for this frontcourt, Garrison is a 6-11 center from Oklahoma City who becomes a vital piece around the rim for the Crimson Tide. After a year starting at Oklahoma State and two years off the bench with Kentucky, he’s going to be significant on both sides of the ball. Garrison averaged just 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds with the Wildcats last season but his size and SEC experience are major pluses, especially if he can turn back into a great rim protector.
Key Reserves
Forward – Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Sophomore)
Yet another new toy for this Crimson Tide lineup, Davis-Fleming is a 6-10 forward from Mississippi who did decent work in the SEC last season. As a freshman at Mississippi State, he got a few starts and put up 3.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, making 68% of his 2-point attempts. Davis-Fleming is still developing into a great frontcourt weapon but is a fantastic young addition who should get serious run, especially if he keeps developing as a post presence.
Guard – Anderson Diaz (Freshman)
A 4-star point guard from the Bronx, Diaz should factor into this backcourt equation as a true freshman and brings plenty of talent to Tuscaloosa. His game will remind fans a lot of Philon, a quick lead guard with playmaking ability who can score in bunches. Diaz reclassified into the class of 2026 and adds another impressive shooter into the fold.
Forward – Tarris Bouie (Freshman)
A 4-star wing originally from Charlotte, Bouie is a talented slasher who just might become one of the better defensive players for the Crimson Tide. He’s still building his strength but he has great size and a wingspan to contest shots while also showing great decision-making on and off the ball. His role is uncertain with all the talent in this lineup, though he’s someone to watch for sure.
Forward – Keitenn Bristow (Junior)
After a solid showing as a freshman at Tarleton State, Bristow had an injury-shortened sophomore season with the Crimson Tide. The 6-8 forward out of Texas appeared in just ten games, averaging 3.6 points and 4.0 rebounds a night. If he can stay healthy, he’s another talented athlete with playmaking ability all over the court, plus an experienced piece on this very young bench.
Guard – Qayden Samuels (Freshman)
Yet another impressive 4-star recruit, Samuels is a 6-6 wing out of Maryland with plenty of potential. He’s a versatile athlete who has the physicality to play forward and the shot-making ability to succeed around the basket and outside the arc. That strength make him a fantastic addition into the fold while his game as a whole fits Alabama’s tempo, especially if he can continue developing as a smooth shooter.
Forward – Jaxon Richardson (Freshman)
Quite possibly the best piece of a stacked freshmen class, Richardson is a 6-6 wing and the son of former NBA star Jason Richardson. While his outside shooting is still developing, Richardson brings fantastic effort all over the court. He has impressive fundamentals, is a physical rebounder, and should become a key to the Alabama defense even as a true freshman.
Guard – Cole Cloer (Freshman)
We haven’t seen Cloer on the basketball court quite yet, though the Crimson Tide are excited to get him in town. A highly-regarded recruit, he spent last year redshirting at NC State before finding his way to Tuscaloosa in the offseason. Cloer is an impressive shooter with solid size at 6-7. He’s an intelligent player and his potential as a physical athlete and shot maker certainly gives him a chance for notable minutes this year.
Schedule Outlook
Oats has never shied away from a challenge in nonconference, though the Crimson Tide at least have a soft landing to start the season. Alabama’s first five games come in their home arena, though that does include a battle against Seton Hall on November 13th. It’s after that point where things really get tougher.
The Crimson Tide spend Thanksgiving week at the Players Era Festival, seeing Baylor and then at least two more opponents while getting a major chance to prove themselves. They’ll then head to Coral Gables on December 2nd, playing at Miami as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, though that’s far from the toughest part of their month.
Alabama plays December 8th in New York City in the Jimmy V Classic against Houston in a highly anticipated matchup. Less than a week later, they’ll be in Birmingham for the C. M. Newton Classic and another important battle with St. John’s. A true road test at South Florida comes a few days later before the final notable matchup comes in Des Moines against Iowa right before Christmas.
SEC play provides chance after change for the Crimson Tide to be tested, including two looks each at Arkansas, Auburn, and Mississippi State. They’ll host a really strong Florida team in mid-January, though February is really where things get interesting. It’s a month full of tough road tests, heading to Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, and Texas A&M in a six-game span. The final home game is Georgia for Senior Night before ending the year at rival Auburn on March 6th.
Season Outlook
Another strong performance last season out of Alabama didn’t surprise anyone and it shouldn’t shock anyone to hear that this year’s team could be just as good if not better. The Crimson Tide definitely lost a few important pieces but have a whole host of new transfer and freshmen talent into the mix that should create impressive results in Tuscaloosa.
Replacing Philon is no picnic but both Allen and Holloway are ready to step up into those starring roles. You can easily argue that Holloway has already been a star but he could be on an All-American track if he takes another monumental step. Beyond that, Samuels seems like the next star guard from that great freshmen class while the rotation should also have a boatload of young wings jockeying for minutes.
While this team might have gotten even better from a shooting standpoint, it’s fair to wonder just where the frontcourt stands with these additions. Both Fielder and Garrison have looked great at times, but they’ll need to be consistent threats in this lineup. Don’t be surprised to see Richardson, Samuels, and those other star freshmen playing more and more as this season develops, especially in the run-and-gun style that Oats likes to play.
With a returning star and a few other solid pieces back, Alabama is leaning heavily on a few unknowns, but let’s not act like these are true unknowns. A ridiculously talented freshman class is going to produce results and the great freshmen recruiting by this staff continues to pay dividends. Holloway should be the player to watch while names like Allen and Richardson will be known across the nation before March.
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