One positive byproduct of the transfer portal is that it allows players quick resets when situations don’t work out best for them, and that even applies to highly touted prospects just as well as those ignored by the recruiting websites. Another example of this positive recently came to pass as former Alabama forward Derrion Reid found his next home at Oklahoma, agreeing to spend his sophomore season under Porter Moser in the familiar SEC.
A former 5-star prospect out of Groveton, Georgia, Reid is a 6-8 small forward who came into last season with major expectations. Elite prospects aren’t a foreign concept in recent years for the Crimson Tide, though Reid didn’t exactly have the freshman season he was expecting, certainly paling in comparison to recent Alabama stars like Brandon Miller.
Oklahoma lands Alabama transfer Derrion Reid
There wasn’t a major role for Reid on a team that leaned heavily on Mark Sears and got great production from Grant Nelson, Aden Holloway and others. For the season, Reid averaged 6.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, but let’s give the full picture on a frustrating campaign. A hamstring injury forced him out of action in January and altered the remainder of his season, missing up until the SEC Tournament including several games down the stretch.
Reid actually started Alabama’s first two games of the season before settling into a less prominent role in the coming weeks. He had double-digit efforts in several prominent Alabama wins, including December contests against North Carolina and Creighton and a nice performance against the Sooners, his new team.
However, Reid was relegated largely to backup minutes after that mid-January injury, only averaging about 9 minutes a game during the Crimson Tide’s run to the Elite Eight. A Top 15 nationally ranked prospect wasn’t a major factor on a potent Alabama offense, but he’s looking to shake off those cobwebs next season.
Reid becomes the latest new piece in Norman, joining a transfer class with significant scoring options including Njiel Pack from Miami, Tae Davis from Notre Dame, and Xzayvier Brown out of Saint Joseph’s. Each of those three players averaged double figures this past season, though the Sooners are hoping that Reid can take that step forward as a sophomore to perhaps be the best of the bunch.
The jury is far from out on Reid’s career even after a disappointing debut campaign. Time will tell how Moser and his staff will handle him and if they can help him realize his potential as a star forward. The Sooners add a great piece with potential as they hope to return to the NCAA Tournament while the former Alabama forward could become quite the steal in his second SEC season.